Latest news with #MichiganDepartmentofHealthandHumanServices
CBS News
11 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
Marquette County reporting two confirmed cases of measles in the past week
With the addition of two newly confirmed cases in Marquette County, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is counting 10 measles cases in the state so far this year. The official list now is: Ingham – 1 case Kent – 1 case. Macomb – 1 case. Marquette – 2 cases. Montcalm – 4 cases. This number is considered an outbreak Oakland – 1 case. The Marquette County cases, which are the newest ones, were reported May 29 and June 2 by the local health department. A previously reported measles case in Ingham County has been pulled from the 2025 count because additional testing indicated a false alarm, according to state officials. That individual recently had received one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, which triggered the first laboratory test; and medical personnel later determined the respiratory symptoms were not from measles. Measles is considered a highly contagious disease; but two doses of the MMR vacine are 97% effective in preventing measles. Over 1,000 cases have been confirmed in the United States so far this year, resulting in 133 hospitalizations and three deaths, according to the latest reports from the Centers for Disease Control. Symptoms of measures can include high fever, cough, runny nose, white spots inside the mouth, and a red rash on the skin. The above video originally aired on April 16.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MDHHS helps families stay fed with SUN Bucks
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)– The , also known as SUN Bucks, is back, and according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, it is to ensure children will have access to nutritious food while school is out. that the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service approved Michigan's Summer EBT program to assist low-income families feed kids during the summer. MDHHS officials say families who already have a Bridge card will have a one-time payment of $120 per eligible child added to their existing card. People who don't have a Bridge card will get a pre-loaded one in the mail. If benefits are unused, they will expire and not be reinstated. Children who are eligible according to MDHHS: Children aged 6 to 18 who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Medicaid benefits between July 1, 2024, and August 31, 2025, will be automatically enrolled. Medicaid recipients' income must be at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. Students of any age certified as eligible to receive free or reduced-priced lunch through the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. Approved through the summer EBT application process. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer explains how proud of the Summer EBT program in a news release sent to 6 News. 'Summer is here, but hunger isn't going anywhere,' said Governor Whitmer. 'I'm proud that we're continuing our successful Summer EBT program so no child goes hungry between school years. I'm proud of the work we've done to tackle hunger, including our work to deliver free breakfast and lunch to all 1.4 million public school students, saving their parents nearly $900 a year in groceries and time every morning. While folks in DC keep trying to find ways to cut health care for Michiganders and food benefits for hungry families, here in Michigan we will keep taking action to make a real difference in their lives.' According to Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director, kids who don't have access to healthy food during the summer are at risk of malnutrition. 'Michigan children and their families shouldn't have to worry about going hungry over summer break,' said Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS director. 'Summer break is a time when many children lose access to the reliable meals they receive at school, placing them at risk of hunger and malnutrition. The Summer EBT Program, in addition to our other nutrition assistance programs, like WIC and SNAP, helps us close the summer hunger gap by providing every eligible child with nutritious food, addressing one of the key social determinants of health, food insecurity.' To apply to the Summer EBT program, . Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
State officials warn about the dangers of tick-bites
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)—With tick-borne diseases on the rise, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services () is encouraging people to be aware when they are outdoors. The MDHHS reports that the cases of these diseases, such as disease and , are increasing across the state. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is the most common tick-borne disease in the state. Cases have increased by 168% over the last five years. The state recorded 1,215 cases in 2024, compared to 452 cases in 2020. Anaplasmosis, caused by the bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum, is the second most common tick-borne disease. Cases have increased by nearly five times in the last five years, with 82 cases in 2024 compared to 17 in 2020. The disease is particularly common in northern parts of Michigan. MDHHS says both diseases are transmitted by Ixodes scapularis, commonly known as the blacklegged or deer tick. Symptoms usually arise one to two weeks after a bite, often after being in wooded or brushy areas where ticks commonly live. Early symptoms may include fever, chills, rash, headache, fatigue and muscle aches. Early treatment with antibiotics can decrease the risk of serious complications. 'Preventing tick bites is the best way to prevent tick-borne diseases, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis,' said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, Chief Medical Executive for the State of Michigan, in a news release sent to 6 News. 'If you find a tick attached to your body, promptly remove it. Monitor your health, and if you experience fever, rash, muscle or joint aches, or other symptoms, or if you suspect a tick has been attached for more than 24 hours, consult with your medical provider,' added Bagdasarian. Avoid tick-infested areas As ticks live in grassy, brushy, and wooded areas, individuals should walk in the center of trails to avoid contact with overgrown grass, brush, and leaf litter at trail edges Keep an eye on your pets Dogs and cats can encounter ticks outdoors and bring them into the home. Talk with your veterinarian about the best tick prevention products. Use insect repellent Apply an EPA-registered repellent on exposed skin. Find a repellent product that is right for you. Treat clothes (especially pants, socks, and shoes) with permethrin, which kills ticks on contact, or buy clothes that are pre-treated. Do not use permethrin directly on skin. Always follow the manufacturer`s instructions when applying repellents. Perform daily tick checks Always check for ticks on yourself and your animals after being outdoors, including in your yard. Inspect all body surfaces carefully and remove attached ticks carefully with tweezers. To remove a tick, grasp the tick firmly and as closely to the skin as possible. With steady, even pressure, pull the tick`s body upward and away from the skin. Cleanse the area with an antiseptic. Be sure to bathe and shower Bathe or shower as soon as possible after coming indoors (preferably within two hours) to wash off and more easily find ticks. Wash clothing in hot water and dry on high heat to kill ticks in clothing. If you need help identifying a tick, you can email photos of it to for identification free of charge. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ingham County: Vaccination triggered false positive measles test for Michigan baby
A 1-year-old boy from Ingham County who was believed to have had measles in April actually was not infected with the virus — even though his initial test was positive, the Ingham County Health Department and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have announced. 'When we test for measles, the first test is very sensitive and can pick up both real infections and traces of the vaccine virus,' said Dr. Nike Shoyinka, Ingham County's medical health officer, in a statement May 14. 'Further testing showed the symptoms were likely from an unrelated illness and the positive test result was due to a recent vaccination, not a case of measles.' The boy was exposed to a 1-year-old girl who had a confirmed case of measles earlier in April. He was undergoing monitoring by the health department when he developed general respiratory symptoms. That led health officials to test the boy for measles. The test was positive, which triggered additional monitoring and public notification of his case. However, additional testing by a regional public health reference lab supported by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed that the initial positive measles test result was caused by a recent vaccination with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine. The MMR vaccine contains weakened live measles virus. This type of detection is not considered an infection and the child was not contagious, the health department said. "With the availability of the additional testing, this case will no longer be counted as a confirmed measles infection by ICHD or MDHHS," the statement said. 'This situation is a reminder of why timely vaccination is so important,' Shoyinka said. 'The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent measles and protect public health.' More: Montcalm County has Michigan's first measles outbreak of 2025 More: What are the symptoms of measles? And other answers to common questions. In Michigan, there have been eight confimed measles cases this year, including a cluster of four cases in Montcalm County that constitute an outbreak. An adult from Oakland County who traveled internationally with an unknown vaccination history and was the state's first measles case of 2025. The person exposed others March 8-10 at a restaurant in Rochester and at Henry Ford Rochester Hospital. A traveler from Kent County who potentially exposed hundreds of other people to measles March 24-28 when visiting Metropolitan Airport in Romulus and the Gerald R. Ford International Airport in Grand Rapids, along with a restaurant in Kentwood and a Corewell Health facility in East Grand Rapids. An adult from Macomb County who traveled to the Windsor-Essex County area of Ontario, Canada. The case was announced April 4, and the person is not believed to have gone out in public while infectious, so there are no known exposure sites. A 1-year-old girl from Ingham County who got one dose of the MMR vaccine the day before traveling through a Michigan airport out of state with her family. But it wasn't enough time for her body to mount an immune response. Her infection was reported April 14, and she exposed others at multiple locations in Lansing, East Lansing, and Okemos, including at a farmers market, a preschool/day care center, a restaurant, a hospital emergency department and a building on the Michigan State University campus. Four cases in Montcalm County that were identified in April and are tied to an ongoing outbreak in Ontario, Canada. Nationally, the CDC has confirmed 1,001 measles cases in 30 states as of May 8. Of them, about 68% have been among children and teenagers, and 96% have been among people who were either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown. One dose of the MMR vaccine provides about 93% protection against the virus, and two doses offer about 97% coverage, the CDC says. It recommends the following for MMR vaccines: A first dose for children at 12 months-15 months old, with a booster dose administered between ages 4 and 6. Anyone born during or after 1957 without evidence of immunity against measles or documentation of having been vaccinated with two doses of MMR vaccine should get vaccinated. People exposed to measles who cannot document immunity against the virus should get post-exposure prophylaxis — a dose of the vaccine to potentially provide protection within 72 hours of initial exposure, or immunoglobulin within six days of exposure. The CDC changed its recommendations in 1989 from one dose of the MMR vaccine to two doses, which provides longer-lasting and more robust protection. People born between 1957 and 1989 who have had just a single dose of the vaccine may be at a higher risk of contracting the virus in an outbreak setting. Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@ Subscribe to the Free Press. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Vaccination led to false positive measles test for Ingham County baby
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
How MDHS says proposed Medicaid cuts could affect Michigan
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — Analysts with the state health department are raising the alarm about how proposed cuts to Medicaid would impact healthy systems and health outcomes across the state. Recently, Republicans in Congress announced a plan to cut $880 billion from Medicaid. If passed, it would be the largest cut to Medicaid in its 60-year history. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services released a report this week on the impact of these cuts. According to their report, a reduced federal matching rate would result in just over a billion dollar annual loss to the state budget. New Medicaid work requirements would see a loss of coverage for up to 290,000 Michiganders in the first year. Tax reforms for providers would yield a $2.3 billion payment decrease to state hospitals. But the department's director warned, these cuts won't just impact people on Medicaid. 'It's crucial to remember that people covered by Medicaid health plans are served in underserved areas,' said Director Elizabeth Hertel in a statement to News 8's Detroit affiliate. 'If those facilities or hospitals have to close, it's not only those covered by Medicaid who will lose access; everyone in that region will be affected.' As it stands now, Michigan has approximately 2.6 million Medicaid enrollees, representing 26% of the state's population. Michigan's Medicaid budget is approximately $27.8 billion for this fiscal year. Around 70% of that comes from federal funding. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
