Latest news with #MacombCountyHealthandCommunityServices
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Macomb County resident who traveled to Canada has measles, is 3rd Michigan case of 2025
A Macomb County resident who recently traveled to Ontario, Canada, now has a confirmed case of measles, the county health department announced Friday afternoon. The infected person is an adult who recently traveled to the Windsor-Essex County area, which is , but is not believed to have gone out in public while infectious, Macomb County health officials said. For that reason, there are no known exposure sites. 'Measles is a highly contagious disease and spreads through the air when a person coughs, sneezes or talks,' said Andrew Cox, director/health officer of Macomb County Health and Community Services, in a statement. 'If you are not vaccinated for measles, get vaccinated as quickly as you can. It is important to make sure you protect yourself and loved ones from this vaccine-preventable disease.' About 90% of unvaccinated people who are exposed to measles will become infected with the virus. It is possible to spread measles before noticing symptoms — as early as four days before the rash appears, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles symptoms typically start within seven to 14 days after exposure, but also have been known to appear as long as 21 days after initial exposure and can include: Fever, which may rise above 104 degrees. Respiratory symptoms such as runny nose, cough and red, watery eyes, and conjunctivitis or pink eye. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots, known as Koplik spots, may develop on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash that is red, raised and blotchy appears. It usually begins on the face and spreads to the trunk, arms and legs. Measles outbreaks are spreading across the U.S. and around the globe amid falling immunization rates. Since the start of the year, 607 confirmed measles cases have been identified in 22 states, including Michigan. The CDC reports that 74 people with measles have been hospitalized (about 12%) in the U.S. in 2025 and two people died in those outbreaks. About 72% of cases have been among people younger than age 20, and 97% of those who have been infected were unvaccinated. It's the third case of measles in Michigan this year. An Oakland County resident who traveled abroad had Michigan's first known measles infection of 2025 in early March, and exposed others at a restaurant and hospital in Rochester. The second case this year was announced earlier this week, and involved an international traveler from Kent County who exposed potentially hundreds of others from March 24-28 at Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant in Kentwood, the Gerald R. Ford International Airport, Detroit Metropolitan Airport, and Gaslight location of Corewell Health Family Medicine in East Grand Rapids. And in Oakland County earlier in the day Friday, a resident was confirmed to have mumps. Both measles and mumps can be prevented by getting two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. A single dose of the measles vaccine is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses are about 97% effective. It is also effective if used within 72 hours of measles exposure to prevent illness. Macomb County health officials urged anyone who is not fully vaccinated against measles to seek vaccination as soon as possible. And if you suspect you might have symptoms of measles, they ask that you call your doctor, urgent care center, or hospital before seeking treatment so they can take measures to prevent you from exposing others to the virus. Vaccines are available through primary care providers and pharmacies. More: State's top doctor: Measles outbreak likely in Michigan because of low vaccination rates Medicaid and most private insurance plans cover the MMR vaccine at no cost. Low- to no-cost vaccines also are available at local public health department offices. Children eligible for the Vaccines for Children program also may receive the vaccine from a provider enrolled in that program at no cost. To learn more, go to: Vaccines for Children (VFC): Information for Parents | schedule an appointment for vaccination at the Macomb County Health Department, call 586-469-5372 or visit its Immunization Clinics website at The MMR vaccine is available through Oakland County Health Division offices at the following addresses during clinic hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ; Tuesdays: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ; Thursdays: 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield. North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac. More: Traveler with measles exposed others at Detroit Metro, Grand Rapids airports: What to know More: Michigan's 1st 2025 measles case reported, likely exposing others at 2 Rochester locations They can be. About 1 in 20 kids with measles develops pneumonia. Roughly 1 out of every 1,000 children who have measles infections also will have encephalitis. Brain swelling from encephalitis can lead to convulsions, permanent hearing loss, intellectual disability and death, according to the CDC. Anywhere from 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children with measles dies from respiratory or neurologic complications from the virus. "We've had the vaccine since 1963, and before the vaccine was available, every year across the U.S., between 400 and 500 people died," Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Michigan's chief medical executive, told the Free Press for a previous story. "Four hundred to 500 people may not seem like ... huge numbers, but it is a lot, especially if you're talking about your loved one or your child." Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@ Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Macomb County says resident who traveled to Ontario has measles
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Flu's deadly toll rises in Michigan as 2 kids die in Kent County, 1 in Macomb County
The deaths of three Michigan children from the flu were announced Thursday — bringing the grim tally statewide to five this year, state and local health officials told the Free Press. Two of the most recent deaths occurred Kent County and the other was reported in Macomb County. "I can confirm that there has been a pediatric flu-related death in Macomb County. We will not be releasing any further information on this unfortunate loss," said Andrew Cox, director/health officer of Macomb County Health and Community Services, in an emailed statement to the Free Press. Neither the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services nor Cox would answer questions about when the child died, the age of the child, what strain of flu virus sickened the child, or whether the child had been hospitalized or received the seasonal flu vaccine. In Kent County, Health Officer Dr. Adam London issued the following statement: 'We are deeply saddened by the loss of these young lives to influenza. This is a heartbreaking reminder that while the flu can be mild for some, it poses serious health risks for others. We encourage anyone who has not received a flu shot this season to consider doing so as soon as possible to protect our community and our children." A spokesperson from Kent County did not immediately respond to a phone call or text message from the Free Press seeking information about when the children died, what type of flu virus they had, and whether they were vaccinated. Laina Stebbins, a spokesperson for the state health department, said only that they "are not sharing any further details." The state health department reported the first two Michigan pediatric flu deaths of the season — in Wayne and Genesee counties — on Feb. 14 . Both of those children had the H1N1 type of influenza A, according to the state health department. Their deaths come as flu activity surges in Michigan, putting pressure on hospital emergency departments. Corewell Health urged metro Detroiters earlier this month to carefully consider other options before seeking care at its hospitals, which have been strained by the rising number of people with flu, COVID-19 and RSV. State influenza surveillance data shows that the spread of flu-like illnesses were at the highest level reportable — "very high" — in the week ending Feb. 15, with H1N1 and H3N2 types of influenza A causing the most infections. In the last week alone, nearly 3,000 Michiganders were hospitalized with flu, according to the state dashboard. And among children, 9.7% of pediatric hospital emergency department visits were associated with flu, RSV or COVID-19 in the week ending Feb. 22. Of them, flu made up the lion's share, accounting for 7.9% of the hospital emergency visits among kids. More: MDHHS: 2 Michigan children die from flu as hospitalizations climb More: Michigan flu, RSV, COVID surges wreak 'havoc' in Corewell emergency departments Statewide, seasonal flu vaccination rates are lower than they've been in the last several years. As of Feb. 22, just 24.7% of Michiganders had received the seasonal flu vaccine, according to the Michigan Seasonal Respiratory Viruses Dashboard. When the first two Michigan children died, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive, issued the following statement, reminding people that it's not too late to get the vaccine: 'We are heartbroken for the families who have experienced this loss. Last season, influenza claimed the lives of nearly 200 children across the United States. Influenza rates are currently very high, and if you did not receive a flu vaccine last fall, it is not too late to get one. It can still prevent the severe complications of influenza, including hospitalization and death.' State health leaders recommend that everyone older than 6 months, including people who are pregnant, should get a seasonal flu vaccine. Additionally, when people get sick, it's important to get treatment early, they say, when antiviral medicine can limit the severity of illness and prevent dangerous complications. Nationally, at least 86 children have died from flu so far this season, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were eight pediatric flu deaths reported in Michigan during the 2023-24 season and eight in the 2022-23 season as well, Stebbins said. (This story was updated with additional information.) Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@ Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Flu death toll rises to 5 in Michigan as 3 more children die
CBS News
27-02-2025
- Health
- CBS News
Health officials confirm third Michigan child has died from influenza this season
A third Michigan child has died as a result of influenza during this winter's flu season, health officials report. Andrew Cox, director/health officer of Macomb County Health and Community Services, confirmed Thursday that the latest case was in Macomb County. He declined to provide additional details on what he called "this unfortunate loss." The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services' latest Flu Focus report, issued Feb. 21, shows that state officials had counted three influenza-related pediatric deaths in the state for the winter. The cases are among the 86 such deaths reported across the country. The number in Michigan could still grow. MDHHS said after the first two cases were reported earlier this month – one each in Wayne and Genesee counties – that "several other Michigan pediatric influenza deaths are currently under investigation." Michigan's flu activity was listed as "very high" in recent weeks, based on the number of people seen with flu-like symptoms at participating emergency departments and urgent care facilities. Additional influenza data and trends for Michigan can be found at the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website. The video above previously aired on Feb. 14, 2025.
