Confirmed Measles Case In Michigan

If you traveled through the Detroit Metro Airport on March 6, you'll want to know about a confirmed case of the measles with ties to Washtenaw County.  Authorities are suggesting that especially anyone who was in the baggage claim area on that date between 2:00 PM and 6:00 PM should be on alert for symptoms and early signs of the disease.

According to news reports, the person who has the confirmed measles case was returning from a trip abroad and was definitely contagious at the time.

Although a vigorous vaccine program is in place for the disease, the number of people who are choosing not to receive it have started growing in recent years.  Almost the entire majority of people who have come down with measles recently have not received the vaccine.  People who received the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine twice as children are considered "protected for life".

The early symptoms of measles include sensitivity to light, a high fever, red eyes, runny nose, and a cough.  Following a 10 to 12 day incubation period and the early symptoms, measles evolves into a red, raised body rash that starts on the head and face before progressing to the rest of the body.  The unfortunate thing is that people infected are contagious for a few days before symptoms become noticeable.