A young child in Kent County who recently traveled with family internationally now has measles, the county health department announced July 2.
It is the second confirmed measles case in Kent County since April, the health department said, and is Michigan’s 17th confirmed case of the highly contagious virus in 2025.
“We’re seeing a troubling resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, both here and around the world,” said Dr. Adam London, health officer for the Kent County Health Department, in a statement. “This latest case is a reminder that traveling to or from areas with ongoing outbreaks can put vulnerable people at risk. Vaccination remains our best defense.”
The child exposed others to the virus at the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital’s emergency room, 100 Michigan St. NE in Grand Rapids, between 11:38 p.m. June 27 and 12:06 a.m. June 28.
Measles is so contagious, it can spread through the air when a person with the infection breathes, coughs or sneezes. Those viral particles can remain in the air for as long as two hours after a person leaves, infecting others.
The Kent County Health Department said in this latest case, only one exposure site has been identified so far, but “more may become available as the investigation continues.”
The reason the window of exposure at the children’s hospital is shorter than two hours is because it has an air exchange system that rapidly filters the air, killing viral particles within 28 minutes, said Kent County Health Department spokesperson Christina Anthony.
Anyone who was exposed at the hospital is urged to monitor for measles symptoms until July 19. Measles symptoms typically begin 7–14 days after exposure, but it can take as long as 21 days after exposure for them to appear, the health department said.
What are the symptoms of measles?
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles symptoms include:
How serious is a measles infection?
Measles can cause serious illness, long-term disability and death in people of all ages.
As of July 1, the CDC confirmed 1,267 measles cases in 37 states in 2025. Of them, 155 people — 12% of those infected this year — have been hospitalized, and three people have died.
There have been two outbreaks of measles in Michigan this year, which is defined as three epidemiologically linked cases. The most recent outbreak was confirmed June 23 by the Grand Traverse County Health Department, and currently involves three cases.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services reports that exposure sites still within the 21-day active monitoring window tied to that outbreak include:
Another outbreak involving four cases was identified in April in Montcalm County.
The best way to avoid measles infection is to get vaccinated, health officials say. About 92% of the people who’ve had confirmed measles cases in the United States this year were either unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, the CDC reported.
One dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine provides about 93% protection against the virus, and two doses offer about 97% coverage, the CDC says. It recommends the following for MMR vaccines:
Many medical providers and pharmacies have it available. In addition, local health departments often can provide the MMR vaccine. In Kent County, you can find details about the health department’s immunization clinics’ hours and locations at https://www.kentcountymi.gov/257/Clinic-Hours-Locations.
What should I do if I have measles symptoms?
The Kent County Health Department urges anyone who becomes ill with measles-like symptoms to call a health care provider before visiting a clinic or medical office to avoid exposing others.
The health department can be reached 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at 616-632-7228, or you can call 2-1-1 for support on weekends and evenings.
“Measles can cause severe illness, especially in young children, pregnant individuals, and people with weakened immune systems,” said Dr. Kristin Oldenberg, Kent County Health Department’s medical director, in a statement. “The MMR vaccine is both safe and highly effective. If you’re unsure of your vaccination status, now is the time to check and protect yourself and your family.”
Contact Kristen Shamus: kshamus@freepress.com. Subscribe to the Detroit Free Press.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Kent County child with measles traveled internationally, exposed others at hospital
Reporting by Kristen Jordan Shamus, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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