(WXYZ) — Oakland County health workers say they have confirmed 18 cases of measles in the county. Experts at nearby hospitals say it may be just the tip of the iceberg.
On Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services confirmed four more cases, bringing the total to 22 in southeastern Michigan. The new cases include three more in Oakland County and the first case diagnosed in Wayne County.
The news comes a week after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Oakland County Health Division announced that there was a travel-related case of the measles, and several metro Detroit locations had possibly been exposed to the virus.
Boruch Cohen told 7 Action News that his son was hospitalized on Monday night following a previous visit where he tested positive for a virus, but was sent home. It appears, according to Cohen, that it was not known that his son had developed measles. Days later, following a rash and severe pain, the 23-year-old was admitted.
“He was in a lot of pain,” his father said. “So they called the ambulance service and they said get him into the emergency room.”
Cohen didn’t want to publicize his son’s name, but did explain that his hospitalization was difficult given he has two children. One of the children is only an infant, while the older of the two hasn’t been feeling well.
“They’ve kept the kids — as much as possible — away,” he explained, saying one child was with the other grandparents.
Over at Yeshiva Gedolah students continued at school on Tuesday without some of the school’s employees — Binyamin Zevbausk told 7 Action News that his teacher was due to return to school on Wednesday after contracting the measles.
According to the Oakland County Health Department the school was one of the areas where people were exposed in early March — it’s also the latest place where people were exposed that’s currently known, the health department said that occurred between 7pm and 8pm on the 23rd.
People who are exposed to the measles virus are able to get vaccinated within 72 hours of exposure and remains effective. High-risk individuals can receive immune-globulin (Ig) treatment within 6 days of exposure. The problem in this case is that many people were exposed during the first, and second, rounds of the outbreak before realizing there was a cause for concern.
“It went from one case to eight cases to 18 cases,” said Dr. Matthew Sims, the director of infectious disease research at Beaumont Hospital. “Does it go from 18 to 100? 100 to 200? We don’t know the answer yet, but 90-percent of people who are no immunized and are exposed get it. It’s incredibly contagious.
That’s why for the past several days folks have been lining up at Young Israel in Oak Park where people were exposed. The health department has been hosting clinics there.
Dr. Sims stressed that if you do think you have the measles that you contact the Oakland County Department of Health, or your doctor before rushing to be treated.
“Don’t got to you doctors office, don’t go to the emergency room — call the department of health,” said Dr. Sims. “Call your doctor and get instructions because the second you walk into the emergency room you’re going to expose other people.”
You can contact the Oakland County Health Department at 248-858-1280.
Below is a list of locations potentially exposed to the measles virus.
March 23
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
March 22
Aldi: 26300 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, 1:15 – 4:00 p.m.
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park, 7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Berkley Urgent Care: 3270 Greenfield Rd, Berkley, Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Congregation Shomrey Emunah: 25451 Southfield Rd, Southfield,7:30 – 10:00 p.m.
One Stop Kosher Food Market: 25155 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, Oak Park, 1:45 – 4:30 p.m.
March 21
Mapleview Liquor at 6084 W. Bloomfield Twp from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak – Emergency Department: 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Congregation Yagdil Torah: 17100 W 10 Mile Rd, Southfield, 8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 7:00 – 9:45 p.m.
Dorfman Funeral Home: 30440 West 12 Mile Road, Farmington Hills, 2:00 – 5:30 p.m.
Dovid ben Nuchim: 14800 Lincoln St, Oak Park, 8:30 – 11:30 p.m.
Yeshiva Beth Yahuda: 15751 Lincoln Dr, Southfield, 8:15 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. – 12:45 a.m.
Ohr HaTorah Synagogue: 15150 W. 10 Mile Rd, Oak Park, 8:00 – 11:30 a.m. and 2:45 – 5:30 p.m.
March 20
Beaumont Reference Laboratory: 3601 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, After 3:00 p.m.
Providence Park Novi Medical Building: 26850 Providence Parkway, Novi, after 1:00 p.m.
Brede, Inc.: 19000 Glendale Ave., Detroit, 12:00 -7:30 p.m.
Aldi: 26300 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, All Day
Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit: 15230 Lincoln St., Oak Park, 8:20 – 11:20 a.m.
Meijer: 5150 Coolidge Hwy., Royal Oak, 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Ohr HaTorah Synagogue: 15150 W. 10 Mile Rd, Oak Park, 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.
One Stop Kosher Food Market: 25155 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, Oak Park, Noon – 3:30 p.m.
Pointview Products: 46986 Liberty Dr., Wixom, 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Yeshiva Beth Yahuda: 15751 Lincoln Dr, Southfield,10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
March 19
Building at 211 W. Fort St., Detroit, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This building includes Detroit Economic Club, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Passport Office, and more.
March 18
Kroger: 19853 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, 8:00 -11:00 p.m.
Berkley Medical Center: 1695 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, 11:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Meijer: 28800 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 1:00 -4:30p
Yeshivas Darchei Torah School: 21550 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Oakland County Circuit Court Building: 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Bldg.12E, Pontiac, 1:30 - 5:00 p.m.
ABC Warehouse: 24725 Southfield Rd., Southfield, 3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
Universal Plumbing Supply: 14511 W. 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, 4:40 – 7:30 p.m.
March 17
Yeshivas Darchei Torah School: 21550 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Beth Tefilo: 24225 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Lowe’s Home Improvement: 28650 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 12:20-3:30 p.m.
Lowe’s Home Improvement: 434 W. East 12 Mile Rd., Madison Heights, 3:00-7:00 p.m.
Home Depot: 660 W. 12 Mile Rd., Madison Heights, 4:30 – 7:00 p.m.
March 16
Huntington Woods Minyan: 14130 Balfour St., Oak Park, 8:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Beth Tefilo: 24225 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 8:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
March 15
Young Israel of Oak Park: 15140 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park, After 1:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Kroger, 23675 Greenfield Rd.: Southfield, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Beaumont Reference Lab: 3601 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
SKLD Bloomfield Hills: 2975 N. Adams Rd., Bloomfield Hills, 12:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Westborn Market: 27659 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
Jax Kar Wash: 27054 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 1:00 – 4:00 PM
March 15 – March 18
One Stop Kosher Food Market: 25155 Greenfield Rd., Southfield
March 14 – March 19
Congregation B’Nai Israel: 15400 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park
Ahavas Olam: 15620 W 10 Mile Rd., Southfield
Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park
Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit: 15230 Lincoln St., Oak Park
