Health officials announced late Thursday four new confirmed cases of measles in Oakland County, all believed to be linked to a sickened traveler who visited the area earlier this month.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Oakland County Health Division are urging people to get vaccinated. The agencies also released an expanded list of places where people may have been exposed to the highly contagious disease to include stores, medical facilities and even the Oakland County Circuit courthouse.
In addition to the now-five confirmed cases, three other suspected cases are under investigation.
"It's definitely concerning, especially to have this many already in the year," Angela Minicuci, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, told the Free Press.
The Health Division will host a special measles vaccination clinic from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road in Southfield. The vaccine is also available at other times through that office and through the health division's office in Pontiac, some health providers and many pharmacies.
More: Oakland County confirms measles case: What to do if you were exposed
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Measles is spread through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. A few days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots appear in the mouth followed by a blotchy red body rash.
The disease is spreading nationally. From Jan. 1 through March 14, 268 cases have been confirmed in 15 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Washington state, officials have declared a public health emergency amid a widening outbreak in a county known for having a lot of residents who choose not to vaccinate their children
Leigh-Anne Stafford, health officer for Oakland County, urged people who don't know whether they've been vaccinated or whether they've had measles in the past to get vaccinated.
“If symptoms develop, do not visit your doctor or emergency room unless you call ahead so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals," she said.
Earlier this month, health officials said a traveler from Israel who was infected may have spread the virus while visiting Oakland County from March 6-13. Officials believe that case is linked to the four other confirmed and three suspected cases in the county.
Sites of possible exposure
Health officials said Thursday people may have been exposed to the measles at the following locations:
March 14-19
Congregation B’Nai Israel, 15400 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park
Ahavas Olam, 15620 W. 10 Mile Road, Southfield
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit, 24600 Greenfield Road, Oak Park
Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit, 15230 Lincoln Street, Oak Park
March 15-18
One Stop Kosher Food Market, 25155 Greenfield Road, Southfield
March 15
Young Israel of Oak Park, 15140 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, from 1-6 p.m.
Kroger, 23675 Greenfield Road, Southfield, from noon-3 p.m.
March 16
Huntington Woods Minyan, 14130 Balfour Street, Oak Park, from 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m.
March 17
Yeshivas Darchei Torah School, 21550 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
March 18
Kroger, 19853 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, from 8-11 p.m.
Berkley Medical Center, 1695 W. 12 Mile Road, Berkley, from 11:15 a.m.-3 p.m.
Meijer, 28800 Telegraph Road, Southfield, from 1-4:30 p.m.
Yeshivas Darchei Torah School, 21550 W. 12 Mile Road, Southfield, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
March 20
Brede, Inc., 19000 Glendale Ave., Detroit, from noon -7:30 p.m.
'Potential exposures'
Additionally, officials released a second list of what they called potential exposure sites:
March 15
Beaumont Reference Lab, 3601 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, from 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.
SKLD Bloomfield Hills, 2975 N. Adams Road, Bloomfield Hills, from noon-3 p.m.
Westborn Market, 27659 Woodward Ave., Berkley, from 12:30-3:30 p.m.
Jax Kar Wash, 27054 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, from 1-4 p.m.
March 16
Beth Tefilo, 24225 Greenfield Road, Southfield, from 8-11 p.m.
March 17
Beth Tefilo, 24225 Greenfield Road, Southfield, from 8-11 p.m.
Lowe’s Home Improvement, 28650 Telegraph Road, Southfield, from 12:20-3:30 p.m.
Lowe’s Home Improvement, 434 W. 12 Mile Road, Madison Heights, from 3-7 p.m.
Home Depot, 660 W. 12 Mile Road, Madison Heights, from 4:30-7 p.m.
March 18
Oakland County Circuit Court building, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Bldg. 12E, Pontiac, from 1:30-5 p.m.
ABC Warehouse, 24725 Southfield Road, Southfield, from 3:30-7 p.m.
Universal Plumbing Supply, 14511 W. 11 Mile Road, Southfield, from 4:40-7:30 p.m.
March 19
Building at 211 W. Fort St., Detroit, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. This site includes the Detroit Economic Club, U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Passport Office, health officials said.
March 20
Beaumont Reference Laboratory, 3601 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, after 3 p.m.
Providence Park Novi Medical Building, 26850 Providence Parkway, Novi, after 1 p.m.
For more information about measles, go to www.oakgov.com/health or call the Oakland County Health Division's Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533 from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone line will also be open during Saturday's vaccination clinic.
For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.
Contact Ann Zaniewski: 313-222-6594 or azaniewski@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter: @AnnZaniewski.
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https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/oakland/2019/03/21/measles-oakland-county-michigan/3241610002/
2019-03-22 04:28:00Z
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