06/24/2025
MEASLES UPDATE:
As of June 24, 2025, the Grand Traverse County Health Department (GTCHD) has confirmed a measles outbreak, which is confirmed as three or more cases of measles in a single county. Grand Traverse County’s third case was confirmed on June 23, 2025. All three confirmed cases have been determined to be linked to one another by the GTCHD.
Measles is a highly contagious disease, that is spread through direct person-to-person contact and through the air. Symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus but can take up to 21 days.
Common symptoms of measles include:
• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes
• Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth, known as Koplik Spots
• A maculopapular rash, that usually starts on the face at the hairline, then spreads to the trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. If a child is over 12 months of age, and has not received an MMR vaccine, it is important they do so at this time. In a measles outbreak, children 6 months to 11 months of age can get early vaccination. If a dose is given prior to 12 months of age, the two-dose series will still need to be completed. Children over 1 year old and under 4 years old (and have not received an MMR vaccine in the past 28 days) are able to get their second dose early, if medically necessary.
Please call our office at (231) 935-0555 if you are interested in your child receiving the MMR vaccine.
