New Measles Case Confirmed in Kent County: What You Need to Know Now

Back almost 25 years ago, there were no confirmed measles cases in the United States.

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But with more people in different parts of the country making the personal decision not to vaccinate their kids, there has been an increase in measles cases, with some of them resulting in deaths.

So far this year, there have been 17 confirmed measles cases across Michigan, with the second one recently happening here in Kent County.

Second Confirmed Measles Case Confirmed in Kent County

In the later hours of June 27th into the early morning of June 28th, a young child who had recently done some international travel was at Helen Devos Children's Hospital and could have exposed you to measles if you were there during that time.

The Kent County Health Department is telling anyone that was there during that time to monitor for symptoms through July 19, as they can appear up to 21 days after exposure.

Read More: Do Adults In Michigan Need To Get A Measles Booster?

What Are Measles Symptoms?

According to the CDC, the basic symptoms of measles often begin with what feels like a bad cold, followed by a characteristic rash.

Early Symptoms (appearing 7-14 days after exposure):

• High Fever: Can be quite high, often over 104°F (40°C).
• Cough: A dry, persistent cough.
• Runny Nose: Similar to common cold symptoms.
• Red, Watery Eyes (Conjunctivitis): Eyes may look inflamed and be sensitive to light.
• Koplik Spots: Tiny white spots with bluish-white centers can appear inside the mouth (on the inner cheeks) a few days before the rash. These are a distinctive sign of measles.

Later Symptoms (Rash, appearing 3-5 days after early symptoms begin):

• Blotchy Red Rash: This is the most recognizable symptom. It typically starts on the face, especially around the hairline and behind the ears, and then spreads downwards over the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. The spots can sometimes be slightly raised and may merge together, forming larger blotches.

If you think you might have been exposed or are showing symptoms, you should call your doctor before coming into the office so you don't potentially expose people if you are infected.