NEWS RELEASE
June 12, 1998

Department of Community Health Announces Measles Cases Confirmed in Southeast Michigan

Michigan Department of Community Health Director James K. Haveman, Jr. today announced that seven cases of measles have been confirmed in Southeast Michigan. Haveman urged all physicians, parents, schools and day care providers to be certain all children are appropriately immunized and receive their shots on schedule.

"While the number of cases in this outbreak so far has been relatively few, measles is a highly contagious illness and we are concerned that more cases could appear among persons not adequately protected against it," said Haveman. The seven cases have occurred among attendees and others connected to a child care center involving children from throughout the metropolitan Detroit area, raising the potential of future cases across a wide geographic area.

Most of the cases have been infants who had not yet been vaccinated against measles. In addition, some cases have occurred among adults related to the children.

"Some younger adults are not protected against measles, typically those who were born in the 1960s," said Department of Community Health Chief Medical Executive Dr. David Johnson. "They grew up at a time when measles was becoming less common due to the success of measles vaccination programs, but they may have missed getting vaccinated themselves. People get immunity by either having the disease once or getting immunized. These persons, who are now adults in their later twenties, thirties, and early forties, had neither,"

As recently as a generation ago, measles -- also known as rubeola, hard measles, red measles, or morbilli -- was a common, virtually universal childhood illness. The development and use of effective vaccines have resulted in dramatic declines in the levels of the disease, and 1997 saw the fewest number of cases in the US ever. Most recent outbreaks of measles in the country have been the result of exposure overseas or importation from another area of the world.

In the current cluster of measles cases, it is not yet known how or from where the disease arrived.

Measles is a rash illness involving a red, raised rash starting on the face and moving down the body. A high fever with coughing , runny nose and red eyes usually precede the rash by several days. While most persons recover from the illness, measles can involve serious complications, including pneumonia and brain inflammation. In a major resurgence of the disease that occurred nationwide between 1989 and 1991, 125 measles-related deaths were reported.

"The best protection against measles is to get immunized on time," said Haveman. "Michigan has made the most dramatic improvement in immunization rates of any state in the nation. We will aggressively continue our efforts to immunize children so that 100% of our children are immunized."

Measles vaccine, given as a single combined injection with mumps and rubella vaccines, is routinely recommended to be given to children between 12 - 15 months of age. Because of the current situation the Department of Community Health strongly advises physicians in the Metropolitan Detroit area to immunize infants against measles as soon after their 1st birthday as possible.

A second dose of measles vaccine is required and is usually given just prior to school entry at 4-6 years of age but can be given as soon as one month after the first dose. Children attending child care programs are required to have at least one dose of the vaccine by age 15 months.

In addition, measles vaccination is recommended for adults born in 1957 or later who cannot be certain they have immunity to the disease.

"All physicians are reminded to promptly report any suspect cases of measles to their local health departments," said Johnson.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS CONTACT: Geralyn Lasher
June 12, 1998 (517) 241-2112