Measles in Grand Rapids, MI

Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that can lead to serious and potentially life‑threatening complications. Before widespread vaccination, measles was a common childhood disease in the United States. Many people born before 1966 were infected as children and are likely immune.

Today, measles is rare in Michigan and in Grand Rapids because of routine vaccination, but it is still common in many parts of the world. Cases in West Michigan almost always begin with someone who was exposed during international travel and then returns to the Grand Rapids area.

Local public health agencies such as the Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health monitor measles cases closely and work with major health systems like Corewell Health (formerly Spectrum Health), Trinity Health Grand Rapids, Metro Health – University of Michigan Health, and Mercy Health to prevent outbreaks.

Why Measles Still Matters in Grand Rapids

  • Measles remains a leading cause of illness and death in children worldwide.
  • International travel from Gerald R. Ford International Airport increases the chance of measles being brought into West Michigan.
  • Cold Michigan winters drive people indoors, where close contact and shared air can make it easier for measles to spread if it is introduced into the community.
  • Pockets of low vaccination in Michigan can lead to local outbreaks, especially in schools, daycare centers, and faith communities.

Symptoms of Measles

Early Symptoms

The first symptoms usually start about 10 days after exposure (but can appear as early as 7 days or as late as 18 days). Early signs include:

  • Fever
  • Feeling generally unwell (malaise) or fatigue
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Sore, red eyes (conjunctivitis)
  • Swollen lymph nodes
  • Diarrhea (especially in infants)

A classic early sign of measles is Koplik spots:

  • Tiny white, red, or bluish spots inside the mouth (often on the inner cheeks)

Rash

A few days after the first symptoms:

  • A red, blotchy, non‑itchy rash appears
  • It usually starts on the face and neck, then spreads down the body
  • The rash typically lasts 4 to 7 days
  • The rash usually appears around 14 days after exposure

How Long Does Measles Last?

Without complications, a measles infection usually lasts about 14 days, and most otherwise healthy people make a full recovery. However, the illness can be severe, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.

Complications of Measles

Up to one-third of people with measles develop complications and may need hospital care at facilities such as Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital.

Common complications include:

  • Ear infections
  • Diarrhea
  • Pneumonia (lung infection)
  • Other serious respiratory infections
  • Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) – occurs in about 1 in 1,000 measles cases
  • Miscarriage or premature labor in pregnant women
  • Low‑birth‑weight infants

A very rare but fatal complication is:

  • Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE)
    • A progressive brain inflammation that causes brain degeneration
    • Always fatal
    • Occurs in about 1 in 100,000 people who have had measles
    • Usually begins about 7 years after the measles infection

How Measles Spreads in a Community

One of the Most Contagious Infections

Measles is among the most contagious diseases known. In an unvaccinated group, one person with measles can infect 9 out of 10 close contacts.

Measles spreads:

  • When an infected person coughs or sneezes, releasing the virus into the air
  • Through nose or throat secretions (for example, sharing drinks or utensils)
  • By touching contaminated surfaces or objects and then touching your mouth, nose, or eyes

Key facts:

  • The measles virus can survive up to 2 hours in the air or on surfaces
  • Just being in the same room as someone with measles can be enough to get infected
  • People with measles are infectious from 24 hours before symptoms appear until 4 days after the rash appears

In Grand Rapids, this means measles can spread quickly in:

  • Schools and daycare centers
  • Churches and community centers
  • Indoor sports facilities and gyms
  • Shopping centers and grocery stores, especially during cold weather when people spend more time indoors

Who Is at Higher Risk of Measles?

Anyone who is not immune (not vaccinated and never had measles) can get measles. Some people are at higher risk of severe illness and complications, including:

  • Children younger than 5 years
  • Infants too young to be fully vaccinated
  • People with a weakened immune system (for example, due to cancer treatment, immune disorders, or certain medications)
  • Pregnant women
  • Unvaccinated adults, including college students, healthcare workers, and travelers

It is important to remember that adults can also become very sick from measles, not just children.

Measles and International Travel from Grand Rapids

Even though measles is rare in the United States, it is still common in many countries. Measles importation after international travel is the main source of measles cases in the U.S. and in Michigan.

If you are traveling from Grand Rapids (for example, via Gerald R. Ford International Airport) to countries where measles cases or outbreaks are occurring, you are at higher risk.

Before any international trip:

  • Talk with your primary care provider or a travel clinic (often available through Corewell Health or Metro Health)
  • Make sure you are fully vaccinated against measles
  • Check that your children’s vaccinations are up to date

Infants traveling overseas to countries where measles occurs:

  • Can sometimes receive an MMR vaccine from 6 months of age, based on a case‑by‑case assessment by a doctor
  • If vaccinated before 11 months of age, they still need two further doses after 12 months (usually at 12 and 18 months), following the recommended immunization schedule

Measles Vaccination in Grand Rapids, MI

Best Protection: MMR or MMRV Vaccine

The best way to prevent measles is vaccination.

Two doses of a measles‑containing vaccine provide long‑term protection in about 99% of vaccinated people.

In the United States, measles vaccines are given as:

  • MMR – Measles, Mumps, and Rubella
  • MMRV – Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Varicella (chickenpox)
    • MMRV is not recommended for people aged 14 years and over

Typical schedule (check with your Michigan provider for current recommendations):

  • 12 months of age – MMR
  • 18 months of age – MMRV (or as per current U.S. schedule and your pediatrician’s advice)

Who Should Get a Measles Vaccine?

  • Children – as part of the routine childhood immunization schedule
  • Anyone born during or after 1966 who has not received 2 doses of a measles‑containing vaccine should have a catch‑up MMR vaccination
  • People planning overseas travel
  • People who work in:
    • Healthcare (hospitals, clinics, long‑term care facilities)
    • Aged care facilities
    • Correctional facilities
    • Schools and childcare centers

Catch‑up vaccination is often available at low or no cost through public health programs. In Michigan, contact:

  • Your family doctor or pediatrician
  • Kent County Health Department immunization services
  • Community clinics affiliated with Corewell Health, Metro Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or Mercy Health

Refugees, humanitarian entrants, and uninsured individuals may qualify for free or reduced‑cost vaccines through state and local programs.

Unsure If You’re Vaccinated?

To check your measles vaccination status:

  • Contact your doctor or immunization provider for your records
  • Check your records through the Michigan Care Improvement Registry (MCIR) or national systems your provider can access

If records can’t be found:

  • It is safe to receive the measles‑containing vaccine again, even if you may have been vaccinated before
  • When in doubt, get vaccinated

Who Should NOT Receive a Measles-Containing Vaccine?

Measles‑containing vaccines (MMR or MMRV) are not recommended for:

  • People with a severely weakened immune system (talk with your doctor or specialist)
  • Pregnant women

Women who are planning a pregnancy and do not have immunity to measles should:

  • Be vaccinated before becoming pregnant, and
  • Avoid pregnancy for 28 days after vaccination

If you are pregnant (or planning to become pregnant) or have a weakened immune system:

  • Speak with your doctor or immunization provider in Grand Rapids about your options and possible preventive treatments if exposed to measles.

What to Do If You Have Symptoms of Measles in Grand Rapids

Call Ahead and Isolate

If you or your child develop symptoms of measles:

  • Seek urgent medical care, but:
    • Call ahead before going to:
      • Your GP or primary care provider
      • An urgent care clinic
      • An emergency department (e.g., at Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital or Trinity Health Grand Rapids)
    • Tell them:
      • Your symptoms
      • Your vaccination status
      • Any recent travel, especially international
    • Wear a mask when entering any healthcare facility

This allows staff to:

  • Isolate you quickly
  • Prevent spreading measles to other patients in waiting rooms and clinics

How Measles Is Diagnosed

Healthcare providers in Grand Rapids diagnose measles based on:

  • Symptoms
  • Physical examination
  • Medical and vaccination history
  • Travel and exposure history

They confirm the diagnosis with tests such as:

  • Nose and throat swab
  • Urine sample
  • Blood test

Confirmation is important because it allows public health teams (such as the Kent County Health Department) to:

  • Identify people who may have been exposed
  • Offer preventive treatment where appropriate
  • Help prevent a local outbreak

Staying Home and Protecting Others

People who are suspected or confirmed to have measles should:

  • Stay at home until they have been advised whether they are a confirmed case
  • Not attend:
    • Work
    • School
    • Childcare
    • College or university
    • Public places such as supermarkets, malls, gyms, or community events

If measles is confirmed:

  • You are usually considered infectious until 4 days after the rash appears
  • You should stay home until you are no longer infectious and feeling well

During this time, avoid contact with:

  • Young children
  • Pregnant women
  • People with a weakened immune system
  • Anyone who is not fully vaccinated

Children with measles must not attend school or childcare until at least 4 days after the rash appears.

Treatment of Measles

No Specific Antiviral Treatment

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles. Because it is caused by a virus, antibiotics do not work against measles itself. However, antibiotics may be used if a bacterial complication (such as an ear infection or pneumonia) develops.

People with measles are advised to:

  • Rest
  • Drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration
  • Take acetaminophen (paracetamol) to help reduce fever and discomfort (always follow dosing instructions, especially for children)

People with more severe illness may require:

  • Hospitalization
  • Treatment for complications such as pneumonia or encephalitis
  • Supportive care (oxygen, IV fluids, etc.)

Monitoring for Symptoms After Exposure

If you have been in contact with someone who has measles and you are not fully immunized or have never had measles, you are at risk of infection.

For 18 days from the last contact:

  • Monitor for symptoms (fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, rash)
  • Avoid:
    • Public places (work, school, shopping centers, gyms, religious services)
    • Contact with people at high risk of serious illness (infants, pregnant women, people with weakened immune systems)

If you develop symptoms:

  • Seek urgent medical care
  • Call ahead before visiting any healthcare facility
  • Wear a mask to protect others

Preventive Treatment After Exposure

People who have had contact with an infectious person may be given preventive treatment to reduce the risk of developing measles. This is time‑sensitive and depends on how long it has been since first contact:

Types of Preventive Treatment

  1. Measles-containing vaccine (MMR or MMRV)

    • Recommended for most people who can safely receive the vaccine
    • Most effective if given within 3 days (72 hours) of exposure

  2. Immunoglobulin (IG) injection

    • Contains antibodies that help protect against measles
    • Recommended for people who cannot receive the vaccine or who are at higher risk of serious illness, such as:
      • Infants
      • Pregnant women
      • People with a weakened immune system
    • Should be given as soon as possible, and within about 6 days (144 hours) of exposure

In general:

  • Immunoglobulin is reserved for those at highest risk or who cannot be vaccinated
  • People who receive immunoglobulin cannot receive a measles‑containing vaccine for at least 5 months afterward
  • Children may need their routine vaccinations adjusted after receiving immunoglobulin

Preventive treatment is no longer recommended if more than 6 days have passed since exposure, but you still need to:

  • Monitor for symptoms for 18 days
  • Avoid contact with high‑risk individuals

School and Childcare Exclusions

Children who have had contact with a person with measles and are not fully immunized or have not had measles before:

  • Must not attend primary school or childcare until at least 14 days after the rash appeared in the last case of measles in that setting

They may return earlier if:

  • They receive immunoglobulin within 6 days (144 hours) of exposure, and
  • Public health authorities approve their return

Always discuss preventive treatment options with your doctor or pediatrician as soon as possible after exposure.

Local Measles and Immunization Resources in Grand Rapids

If you are in the Grand Rapids or Kent County area and need help with measles concerns or vaccination:

  • In an emergency, call 911
  • Nearest Emergency Departments:
    • Corewell Health Butterworth Hospital
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital
    • Metro Health – University of Michigan Health
  • Primary Care / Family Doctor – for evaluation, vaccination, and records
  • Urgent Care Clinics – for non‑life‑threatening urgent issues
  • Kent County Health Department – immunization clinics, public health advice, outbreak information
  • Grand Rapids Public Health and community clinics – may offer low‑ or no‑cost vaccines
  • Pharmacies – many offer MMR vaccines for adults and older children (age limits vary)

For questions about vaccines, side effects, or scheduling, contact your local healthcare provider or the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services immunization program.

Key Points About Measles in Grand Rapids, MI

  • Measles used to be a common childhood illness in the United States but is now rare because of widespread vaccination.
  • Measles is still common in many parts of the world, and international travel can bring the virus into West Michigan.
  • Measles is highly contagious and can cause serious, sometimes life‑threatening complications, especially in young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems.
  • Two doses of a measles‑containing vaccine (MMR/MMRV) provide long‑term protection in about 99% of people.
  • Vaccination, early recognition of symptoms, and quick action by local healthcare providers and public health agencies are the best ways to protect Grand Rapids families and prevent measles outbreaks.