Measles outbreak confirmed in Washtenaw County -- Here’s what to know

State and local health officials confirmed a measles outbreak in Washtenaw County on Thursday after three related cases were identified.

Three connected cases have been reported in Washtenaw County since March 11, according to a release from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. An outbreak is defined as three or more connected cases.

Officials said there are currently no new public exposure sites in Michigan. You can find a list of the previous exposure sites at the end of this article.

The county’s first reported case was tied to travel to Florida, and the additional linked infections are unvaccinated close contacts of that original case.

“Measles cases are spreading like wildfire this year, and with families traveling over spring break the risk of exposure increases,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state’s chief medical executive. “In this case, what happens on spring break does not stay on spring break. Measles is incredibly transmissible and can easily travel home with us, infecting others in our schools and communities. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine remains our best defense, and two doses of MMR offer 97% protection against measles. We urge all Michigan residents to check their vaccination records to ensure they are up to date with the MMR vaccine.”

The initial Washtenaw County case was the first measles case confirmed in Michigan in 2026.

State and local officials said that more than 1,350 measles cases were reported across 31 states during the first three months of this year, and they are urging families to check vaccine status, especially before traveling.

Vaccine coverage in Michigan has fallen over the past year, increasing vulnerability among children and young adults, according to the release.

“Our team is working very hard to contain this outbreak as much as possible,” said Dr. Juan Luis Marquez, Washtenaw County Health Department medical director. “It saves valuable time and resources when people are fully protected through vaccination and allows us to focus where people may be vulnerable because they’re too young for vaccination, immunocompromised or pregnant.”

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through direct contact and through the air. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days to emerge. People can spread the virus before symptoms develop.

Symptoms

Common symptoms include the following:

• High fever, which can rise above 104 F.
• Cough.
• Runny nose.
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Tiny white spots inside the mouth (Koplik spots).
• A rash that begins as flat red spots on the face at the hairline, then spreads to the trunk and limbs three to five days after symptoms begin; small raised bumps may appear on top of the flat spots.

People who think they may have been exposed or who develop symptoms are advised to call their health care provider before going for testing or treatment so steps can be taken to avoid exposing others.

Vaccines are available at doctor’s offices, most pharmacies and local health departments.

Officials also urged people who were vaccinated before 1968, when a different, less-effective vaccine was used, or who received only one MMR dose before 1989, to consult a health care provider about eligibility for an additional dose. Those unsure of their MMR history are also encouraged to contact their provider or local pharmacy.

Exposure sites

While no new exposure sites were released with the announcement of the outbreak, here’s a list of exposure sites that were previously released:

*These locations were added on March 12 when the second measles case was reported.

For more information about this measles outbreak, click here. You can also find updates, including active monitoring exposure sites, on the Washtenaw County Health Department’s website.