Measles Case Confirmed in Michigan: What to Know
James Grant, M.D.
| 4 min read
James D. Grant, M.D., is senior vice president and c...
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) confirmed the state’s first case in 2025 of adult measles on March 14 in Oakland County.
The infected adult had recently traveled overseas and had an unknown vaccination status, according to the MDHHS. It highlights how easily this highly contagious disease can spread. The infection comes on the heels of outbreaks in Texas, New Mexico, and several other states.
Once eliminated in the United States, measles has been on the rise in recent years. In fact, in less than three months, the number of confirmed measles cases in the US in 2025 has already surpassed the 2024 total, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There have been three outbreaks this year, which the CDC defines as three or more related cases.
What to know about the measles
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious illness and complications, especially in young children. About 90% of people without immunity will become sick after being exposed.
Measles symptoms appear one to two weeks after contact with the virus, which spreads through droplets from an infected person. An infected person can spread measles four days before and four days after a rash appears. The virus can remain in the air for two hours and spread through surface contact. Symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike higher than 104°)
- Cough
- Rash
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
The disease can affect everyone, but those most at risk are:
- Children younger than 5
- Adults older than 20
- Pregnant women
- People with weakened immune systems
About 20% of unvaccinated people are hospitalized from measles. Another complication includes pneumonia – about 5% of children with measles contract pneumonia.
How do I prevent measles?
The most important step to preventing measles is getting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses are more than 97% effective in preventing measles, according to the MDDHS, and one dose is about 94% effective. Due to its contagious nature, immunity from measles relies on 95% of a community to be vaccinated.
Immunization rates in the state of Michigan are at an historic low. As of June 2024, only 67.5% of children ages 19-36 months had completed the recommended doses of the primary childhood vaccine series. According to MDHHS, in more than half of the state, childhood vaccination rates dropped below 70%.
The MMR vaccine is part of the vaccine schedule for children. The CDC guidelines for children are:
- 1st dose received by children 12-15 months old
- 2nd dose received by children 4-6 years old
The CDC considers individuals who have received two doses of measles vaccine as children protected for life against the virus. Adults who did not receive the MMR vaccine as children can also receive the vaccine. The MDHHS requires vaccinations, including MMR, for children before going to school to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
Do measles vaccines expire?
If you think you may have been vaccinated for the measles earlier in life but are unsure, try to find your vaccination records. If you don't have written documentation of measles immunity, there is no harm in getting another dose of MMR vaccine if you’ve already received vaccination.
Adults born after 1957 who have received one dose of measles vaccine are considered protected against measles, according to the CDC. Adults born before 1957 are presumed to have immunity, as they were likely exposed to measles before the current MMR vaccine became available.
Adults vaccinated between 1963 and 1968 are advised to check their vaccination history to determine which vaccine they received. Between those years, a less effective version of the vaccine was administered to 600,000-900,000 U.S. residents, a very small portion of the population.
If you cannot find your vaccination records through medical records of the doctor’s office that administered the shot, there are several options. You can:
- Ask parents or caregivers if they have records of your childhood immunizations
- Revisit baby books or other saved documents from your childhood
- Check with previous employers (including the military) that may have required specific immunizations
- Ask your primary care physician, but keep in mind that vaccination records are kept at offices for a limited number of years
Additionally, the MDHHS website offers an Immunization Portal. Those who have received immunization in Michigan and are over the age of 18 can access and download their personal immunization records in the portal.
If you believe you or a loved one has been exposed or shows symptoms, call your doctor immediately. Calling ahead before going to the doctor or emergency room allows staff to take precautions to reduce exposure to others.
James D. Grant, M.D., is executive vice president and chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.
Photo credit: Getty Images
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