INGHAM COUNTY, Mich. – The second measles case previously reported in Ingham County was a false positive, health officials announced Wednesday.
The Ingham County Health Department previously reported that a one-year-old boy had contracted measles after being exposed to another measles case, which involved a one-year-old girl who contracted the virus after out-of-state travel.
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However, new testing shows that the boy’s positive test result was due to his recent measles vaccination, which is not considered an infection and can’t spread to other people, according to a release.
“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, Medical Health Officer for Ingham County. “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 health department moved quickly to report the case because of how contagious measles is and due to the boy’s known exposure, according to a release.
“This situation is a reminder of why timely vaccination is so important,” said Shoyinka. “The MMR vaccine is the best way to prevent measles and protect public health.”
The case will no longer be considered a confirmed measles case by the county health department or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.
Measles Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, but can take up to 21 days to appear.
Those infected can spread measles before they notice symptoms. Common measles symptoms include the following:
- High fever (may spike to over 104°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)
- Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots)
- A rash that starts as flat red spots on the face at the hairline, then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after the symptoms begin. Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
You can find more information about measles on the state health department’s website.
Measles vaccine
Health officials say getting the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way for residents to protect themselves against measles.
According to the CDC, two doses of the measles vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles if exposed to the virus. One dose of the vaccine is believed to be about 93% effective. You are considered fully protected about two to three weeks after getting the vaccine.
2025 measles cases in Michigan
There have been five confirmed cases of measles in Michigan.
The first case was confirmed on Friday, March 14, in an Oakland County adult who had recently returned home from traveling internationally.
The second case was confirmed in a Kent County adult at the beginning of April. This person had also recently traveled abroad and between New Jersey and Michigan when they returned to the U.S.
Measles was also confirmed in a Macomb County adult and in a Montcalm County resident who recently traveled out of the state. On Thursday, April 17, health officials confirmed Montcalm County is experiencing a measles outbreak, with two more measles cases linked to the initial case.
A fifth case was confirmed in a child in Ingham County who got sick after she traveled outside of the state.