Measles outbreak in Michigan's Washtenaw County has grown to 7 cases, officials say

Max Bryan, The Detroit News on Mar 25, 2026

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DETROIT — A measles outbreak in Washtenaw County has grown to seven cases, health officials confirmed Wednesday.

The Washtenaw County Health Department on Wednesday confirmed the seventh case of measles in the county was contracted by an unvaccinated child who is a close contact of the first case on March 11.

"Unfortunately, this most recent case may have exposed others at a local health care facility," officials said in a news release.

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services last week declared the measles cases in Washtenaw County an outbreak. An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases of measles.

The initial case was associated with travel to Florida.

The Washtenaw health department listed Kroger on Whittaker Road and Washtenaw Community College as possible measles exposure locations.

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that spreads through direct person-to-person contact and through the air.

More than 1,350 cases of measles had been recorded across 31 states as of March 19, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. State officials said vaccine uptake has dropped over the past year, which has left more children and young adults vulnerable to the virus.

Common measles symptoms include high fever, runny nose, watery eyes, tiny white spots inside the mouth and a rash. Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus, according to state health officials.

Washtenaw County Health Department Medical Director Dr. Juan Luis Marquez said anyone who is unvaccinated should stay away from people for 21 days after a measles exposure.

“As we’re seeing, measles spreads rapidly when people are unprotected by vaccination or prior illness,” Marquez said in the news release. “We urge everyone who might have been exposed to follow public health guidance to protect others.”

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