Washtenaw County identifies second suspected measles case

The Washtenaw County Health Department has reported a second suspected case of measles on March 12, 2026. On March 11, measles was identified in an unvaccinated adult. 

The second case, also an unvaccinated individual, is a close contact of the first individual, a statement from the health department said. The new individual has been quarantined since exposure to the first case was identified, said Juan Luis Marquez in the statement. Marquez is the medical director with Washtenaw County Health Department.

Read more: Washtenaw County confirms measles case; exposure locations identified in Ypsilanti, Canton - The Eastern Echo

Additional potential exposure locations have also been identified, Marquez said. The measles virus can live up to two hours in the air. Individuals present at the following locations during the listed dates and times might have been exposed to measles. Newly identified locations are indicated with asterisks.

Individuals who were at these locations during these specific times and on those dates should monitor themselves for symptoms of measles for 21 days after exposure, the statement said. If symptoms appear, individuals should call their health care provider but should not seek in-person medical treatment without first calling the doctor's office, urgent care or emergency room.

Who is at risk

“Unfortunately, we expect to see additional cases in exposed, unvaccinated individuals, as measles is very contagious,” Marquez said in the statement. “We urge people to protect themselves and their families with MMR vaccination if they haven’t already.” 

The MMR vaccine protects individuals from measles, mumps and rubella. Individuals with two, appropriately spaced doses of the vaccine are considered immune, the statement said. Vaccinated individuals are typically not at risk of severe illness, Susan Ringler Cerniglia told The Eastern Echo in a previous interview. Ringler Cerniglia is the public information officer for the county health department. For fully vaccinated individuals, the measles vaccine is about 97% effective in preventing the disease.

Measles is a highly contagious diseases preventable by vaccine, the statement said. Symptoms typically begin between seven to 14 days but can start up to 21 days after exposure. Symptoms include high fever; cough; runny nose; red, watery eyes; tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin; and a rash that is red, raised and blotchy that usually starts on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.

"We're worried about those folks that are unvaccinated or perhaps vulnerable because of pregnancy or being immunocompromised," Ringler Cerniglia said in a previous interview.

Almost everyone who has not had the MMR vaccine will get sick if they are exposed to measles, mumps or rubella, reported the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one in five people who contract measles will be hospitalized, the Washtenaw County Health Department statement said. 

Medicine for exposed individuals

Immune globulin is a medicine that can prevent illness in high-risk individuals up to six days after exposure, the statement said. High-risk groups include infants under one year old and pregnant or immunocompromised individuals. These individuals should contact their health provider to receive immune globulin, if exposed, the health department advised.

High-risk individuals exposed at the CVS or Cricket Wireless on March 6 can get immune globulin through March 12, those exposed at the Ypsi Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic on March 7 can get it through March 13, and those exposed at the Canton Urgent Care Walk-In Clinic on March 8 can get it through March 14.

Those exposed at the newly identified sites, Crunch Fitness on March 4 and Briarwood Mall on March 5, are outside the timeframe to receive the medicine, the statement said.

How to get vaccinated

"Vaccination is available from health care providers, pharmacies and health departments. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program at no-cost. The Washtenaw County Health Department accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Washtenaw Health Plan, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan," the statement said. "The Health Department does not decline services if individuals are unable to pay."

People can call 734-544-6700 to set up a vaccine appointment at the health department. Walk-in vaccinations are available at 555 Towner St. in Ypsilanti at the following times: Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Fridays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

"Anyone not fully vaccinated against measles is encouraged to do so as soon as possible," the health department said in the statement.

While the vaccine, like any medical intervention, carries some risk, that risk is extraordinarily small, Ringler Cerniglia said. The measles vaccine is safe and effective, she said.  

The vaccine is also effective if used within 72 hours of measles exposure to prevent illness. Getting vaccinated protects the individual receiving the vaccine, as well as protecting vulnerable community members from being exposed to the disease, the health department said.