People who visited Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care in Milan on March 31 may have been exposed to measles, according to the Monroe County Health Department.
The county said the possible exposure happened from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the clinic, 870 E. Arkona Rd., Suite 105.
In its public measles advisory, the Monroe County Health Department warned, “Anyone not vaccinated is likely to become ill if exposed.”
People who were at the clinic during that time should monitor for measles symptoms for 21 days after the exposure, the county said.
Health officials said people with two appropriately spaced doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, known as MMR, are considered immune. Adults born before 1957 and people who have had measles also are generally considered immune.
For people who are not immune, Monroe County recommends staying home and avoiding public settings for 21 days after exposure. The county also said some high-risk people, including infants younger than 1 year old and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised, may be eligible for medication after exposure to help prevent illness.
Dr. Lauren Gold, clinician at Zarminali Pediatrics at Ann Arbor West and Chelsea, urged families to stay in contact with their doctor as exposure concerns continue to widen.
“Families should stay in contact with their health care providers regarding possible early doses of MMR vaccines for increased protection during a widening outbreak, as well as guidelines for testing and post-exposure prophylaxis,” Gold said.
Gold said measles is highly contagious and can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, death.
The Monroe County Health Department said measles can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. The county also emphasized vaccination, noting that one dose of MMR is about 93% effective at preventing measles and two doses are about 97% effective.
If symptoms develop, health officials said people should not go directly to a doctor’s office, urgent care clinic or emergency room without calling ahead first. Symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash that typically begins on the face and spreads downward.
Featured image: The Monroe County Health Department said people who visited Trinity Health IHA Urgent Care in Milan on March 31 may have been exposed to measles. Photo by Heather Finch
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