Michigan Health Officials Warn Residents of Measles Exposure
Public health officials in Wayne and Washtenaw counties in Michigan have issued alerts warning residents that they may have been exposed to measles. These alerts come following an adult in Wayne County and another adult in Washtenaw County, both of whom contracted the virus abroad, visited various health-related settings.
In Wayne County, the infected individual visited two urgent care clinics, a CVS pharmacy, and a hospital emergency department in Dearborn. In Washtenaw County, the infected individual visited the emergency department of a hospital in Ypsilanti. Unvaccinated individuals who were in these locations during the specified times are urged to contact public health officials or their healthcare providers. They are also advised to call ahead if they need in-person care.
Issuing such alerts is standard practice during measles outbreaks. These alerts not only help identify potential exposures but also provide crucial information for individuals who want to protect themselves and their families.
However, in Florida, where there have been 10 resident measles cases and four non-resident cases in the past month, the Department of Health has provided limited information regarding these cases. This lack of transparency has left the public in the dark and has also hindered individuals who are planning vacations to Florida and want to avoid potential measles exposures.
Although there have been measles cases in Broward, Polk, and Orange counties in Florida, the state’s Department of Health website has only one measles alert. This brief advisory, dated February 23, mentions cases in Broward County without naming Polk County or referring to cases seen at healthcare facilities in the Orlando area.
The lack of detailed information raises numerous questions. For instance, in Broward County, seven out of the nine cases are students at Manatee Bay Elementary School, but what regarding the two other infected children who are too young to attend school? Are they part of the same outbreak, or did they contract the virus from another undetected case? Moreover, were any of the four Orlando hospital cases linked to visits to Disney World? Unfortunately, the limited information available in the public domain cannot answer these important questions.
Representatives from the Broward and Orlando health departments declined to comment, directing inquiries to the state Department of Health. However, the department has not responded to requests for interviews or acknowledged receipt of the questions posed to them.
Experts in public health see Florida’s approach to measles outbreaks as problematic and fear that it might contribute to the spread of the virus. Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph Ladapo, even stated that parents of unvaccinated children might choose whether or not to send their kids to school during the ongoing outbreak at Manatee Bay Elementary, a decision that has drawn widespread criticism within the public health sphere.
In contrast, public health experts emphasize the importance of transparency during measles outbreaks, calling for proactive promotion of vaccination and timely alerts regarding potential exposures. Jane Zucker, a retired assistant commissioner from the New York City Department of Health, explains that knowing regarding measles exposures can change people’s perception of vaccination, leading to increased vaccination rates as parents seek to protect their children.
William Moss, the executive director of the
