What to know about measles in Washtenaw County

One confirmed case and one suspect case of measles have been identified in Washtenaw County, both in unvaccinated individuals.

The Washtenaw County Health Department treats even one case of measles as an outbreak, due to the nature of the disease, Susan Ringler Cerniglia said. Ringler Cerniglia is the public information officer for the county health department. Here’s what residents should know.

Understanding measles, risks

Measles is one of the most contagious illnesses known, Ringer Cerniglia said. She encouraged everyone in the community to be aware of the fact that Washtenaw County has measles in the area. If one person has measles, up to nine out of 10 people nearby will become infected if they are not protected, the CDC reported.

Symptoms typically begin between seven and 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.

In unvaccinated individuals, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates one in five who contract the disease will become ill enough to be hospitalized. In some cases, measles can lead to more serious complications, such as pneumonia, encephalitis or even death, especially in young children. The pneumonia risk is about one in 20 in children with measles, while one in 1,000 children develops encephalitis, Ringler Cerniglia said. For infected children, the death rate is one to three in 1,000, she said.

Who is at risk?

The health department has identified several locations at specific times and dates as potential exposure points, a March 12 statement from the department said. 

The measles virus can live up to two hours in the air. 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.

"Anybody that's unvaccinated, that was in those spaces, we're a lot more worried about," Ringer Cerniglia said. "We'd really recommend if they were unvaccinated and exposed that they go ahead and quarantine themselves ... stay away from others, and really watch for those symptoms."

Vaccinated individuals are typically not at risk of severe illness, Ringler Cerniglia said. However, if at one of the identified sites at the exposure time and date, vaccinated individuals should still monitor for symptoms for 21 days.

Higher-risk individuals, such as pregnant or immunocompromised individuals or very young children not yet vaccinated, should contact their health care provider if exposed, she said. 

MMR vaccine, immunity

The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Individuals with two, appropriately spaced doses of the vaccine are considered immune, the health department reported. For fully vaccinated individuals, the measles vaccine is about 97% effective in preventing the disease.

Additionally, adults born before 1957 or those who have evidence of prior measles illness are considered immune.

The vaccine is safe and effective, Ringler Cerniglia said, and provides lifelong immunity, meaning it doesn’t require boosters to remain efficacious. The MMR vaccine has been around a long time, she said. While it, like any medical intervention, carries some risk, that risk is extraordinarily small, Ringler Cerniglia said.

Typically, babies are vaccinated at 12 months old. However, people with infants can talk to their health care provider about vaccinating their child as early as six months old if an outbreak develops in the area or if they plan to travel somewhere with a known outbreak.

Checking vaccination status

Ringler Cerniglia recommended people check their vaccination statuses.

"Good advice for everyone to check that vaccination status," she said. "If, for some reason, you declined the vaccine in the past, really reconsider that since the likelihood of being exposed is quite possibly getting greater and is greater."

Young adults who grew up in Michigan can check their vaccination status through the statewide database Michigan Care Improvement Registry, Ringler Cerniglia said. Residents 18 and older can request their records electronically from MCIR through the Michigan Immunization Portal at https://mdhhsmiimmsportal.state.mi.us/ online. Immunization records can also be requested from MCIR directly by mail or fax using a request form, found at mcir.org/public/. 

Records can also be requested from one's health care provider or through the county health department. The Washtenaw County Health Department can issue an immunization record for any Michigan resident, its website said. To request a record, call 734-544-6700 and press option 3 for immunizations and other clinical services. Requestors must make an appointment to pick up their records in person and a small fee may apply.

The MMR vaccine and others are administered in childhood. MCIR is unlikely to retain immunization records of individuals born before 1994, its webpage said. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services advises people to look through family records and check with previous health care providers, schools or childcare providers, and previous employers to find old immunization records.

"Older adults might have a paper record," Ringler Cerniglia said. "Their parents might remember that kind of thing."

A blood draw can also confirm immunity, Ringler Cerniglia said. She added that there is no harm in getting an additional MMR vaccine if immunization is difficult to confirm.

Getting vaccinated

Getting vaccinated isn't just about protecting oneself, but about protecting the more vulnerable people in one's community, Ringler Cerniglia said.

"So, the other reasons that we talk about it, in addition to individual health, is because there are people around us who are more vulnerable," she said. "So, people that are pregnant, people that are immunocompromised and those babies who typically aren't vaccinated until one year. The more that they are surrounded by people that are vaccinated, the more they are protected."

Vaccination is available from health care providers, pharmacies and health departments. Children eligible for the CDC's Vaccines for Children program could 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 health department statement reported. While vaccines from the health department are not free, they are provided on a sliding fee scale, and no one will be turned away for being unable to pay, Ringler Cerniglia said.

People can call 734-544-6700 to set up a vaccine appointment at the Washtenaw County 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.

U.S. outbreaks

In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the United States, the CDC reported. As measles transmission increases throughout the country, the nation is at risk of losing that elimination status, Ringler Cerniglia said. Elimination status means there is not endemic or local spread for at least 12 months, and that status will likely not hold as cases spread in areas in the country, she said.

As of March 12, 2026, there are 1,362 confirmed cases of measles in the U.S., the CDC reported. 94% of confirmed cases are outbreak-associated, per the CDC.

Nationally, 90.8% of children have been vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella by 24 months of age with at least one dose, the CDC reported. 2025 research from John Hopkins University showed a decrease in the average county-level vaccination rate, with percentages falling from 93.92% pre-pandemic to 91.26% post-pandemic.

Statewide, the MMR vaccine coverage rate has dropped from 89% in 2017 to 66% to date, according to data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the county health department reported.

In Washtenaw County, 67% of children 17 years old and younger are vaccinated against measles, Ringler Cerniglia said, which is a lower coverage rate than it has been in the past. If there were better vaccination coverage in Washtenaw County — optimally, a 95% coverage rate — there wouldn't be concern about outbreaks, Ringler Cerniglia said.

"This vaccine is so effective, even if there were scattered cases here and there, they wouldn't be able to spread if our vaccine rates stayed high," she said. "The more they fall down, the more there is vulnerability."