Health officials are tracing possible contacts after laboratory testing confirmed a measles infection linked to a known exposure.

BAD AXE, Mich. — The Huron County Health Department has confirmed a case of measles in Michigan’s Thumb region, prompting an investigation involving local and state public health agencies.

The infection was confirmed through laboratory testing and is connected to a known measles exposure, according to a public notice issued Sept. 21. The department is working with neighboring county health agencies and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.

The notice does not identify the patient’s county of residence, age, or vaccination status. It also does not list any stores, schools, medical offices, or other public-facing locations.

The case should not be described as occurring specifically in Huron County unless health officials release additional information. The Huron County Health Department identified it only as a case in the broader Thumb region.

Measles Can Remain in the Air

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. The virus can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after that person leaves an area.

An infected person can spread measles from four days before the rash appears until four days after it appears. People may therefore transmit the virus before realizing they are sick.

Initial symptoms usually appear seven to 14 days after infection, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Symptoms often include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.

A rash generally develops several days after the first symptoms. It typically begins on the face or near the hairline, then spreads down the neck and across the rest of the body.

Health officials said anyone who may have been exposed should watch for symptoms for 21 days after the exposure.

Call Before Visiting a Medical Office

Anyone who develops possible measles symptoms should stay home and call a health care provider or health department before visiting a clinic, urgent care center or emergency room.

Calling ahead allows medical staff to take precautions and keep a potentially infected person away from other patients. People with suspected measles should not enter a waiting room without first notifying the facility.

Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling and, in rare cases, death. Infants, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face a greater risk of serious complications.

The CDC reports that about 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who contract measles require hospitalization. Children younger than 5, adults older than 20, pregnant women and immunocompromised people have an increased risk of complications.

Residents Urged to Check Vaccination Records

The Huron County Health Department is asking residents to review their measles, mumps and rubella vaccination records.

Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles, while one dose is about 93% effective, according to the CDC. Children generally receive their first dose at 12 to 15 months and a second dose between ages 4 and 6. Recommendations for adults depend on age, prior vaccination, and other risk factors.

People who are unsure about their immunity should contact a medical provider or local health department rather than relying on memory alone.

For a person recently exposed to measles who lacks immunity, an MMR vaccination given within 72 hours of the initial exposure may provide protection or reduce the severity of the illness. Immune globulin administ