Washtenaw County Reports Fourth Suspected Measles Case; WCC Issues Campus Notice

Washtenaw County health officials are reporting a fourth suspected measles case tied to the county’s outbreak, with possible exposure locations including two classrooms at Washtenaw Community College and a Ypsilanti Kroger.

The Washtenaw County Health Department said the suspected case is a close contact of the original case announced March 11. The newly identified exposure locations were all tied to Tuesday, March 17.

Those locations were Crane Liberal Arts Building room 241 at Washtenaw Community College from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Gunder Myran Building room 332 at Washtenaw Community College from 1 to 5 p.m. and Kroger at 2010 Whittaker Road in Ypsilanti from 5 to 7:10 p.m.

Washtenaw Community College also sent a campuswide notice Saturday confirming that the county health department is investigating a suspected measles case at WCC and asked the college to share the possible exposure locations with students and staff.

In the notice, Provost and Chief Operating Officer Linda Blakey said anyone who was at one of those locations during the listed times should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure.

Early symptoms can include fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes, followed several days later by a red rash.

“If symptoms develop, call your health care provider before visiting a clinic or hospital,” Blakey wrote.

The county said it is announcing the suspected case immediately because some people exposed March 17 may still be eligible for treatment to help prevent illness.

Health officials said infants under 1 year old and people who are pregnant or immunocompromised are considered high-risk for complications from measles. Those individuals may be able to receive immune globulin treatment if they were exposed, but it must be given within six days. For people exposed March 17, the last day to receive that treatment is Monday, March 23.

Blakey also told the campus community that most people who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are well protected and do not need to do more than monitor for symptoms.

The update comes two days after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Washtenaw County Health Department confirmed a measles outbreak in the county after identifying three linked cases. Michigan defines an outbreak as three or more related cases.

Officials are continuing to urge residents to make sure they are vaccinated and to review the list of exposure locations carefully.

For questions, Washtenaw Community College directed people to contact the Washtenaw County Health Department at 734-544-6700 or visit the county health department website.