Measles cases return to Michigan, here’s what you should know

(WXYZ)—MichiganhasconfirmeditsfirstmeaslescasesincelastJuly.AnOaklandCountyadulttestedpositiveafterrecentlytravelingoverseas. Ascasesrise,peoplehavequestionsaboutthishighlycontagiousvirus.Igetthesesamequestionsfrommypatients.Andhere’swhatItellthem:youcancheckyourvaccinationrecords.Ifyoucan’tfindthem,yourdoctorcandoasimplebloodtesttocheckformeaslesIgGantibodies.Thatwilltellyouifyouhaveimmunity. Now,mostadultsarelikelyprotected,eitherfromchildhoodvaccinesorhavingmeaslesbefore.However,ifyouwerebornin1957orlateranddon’thaveproofofvaccination,theCentersforDiseaseControlandPreventionrecommendsatleastonedoseofMMR. Ifyouwerebornbefore1957,you’remostlikelyimmunebecausemeasleswascommonbackthen.However,it’snotaguarantee.Ifyougotameaslesvaccinebetween1963and1967,considergettingaboostershot. Formostpeople,gettingaboosterissafe.Butthereareexceptions:ifyou’repregnant,haveaweakenedimmunesystemorhavea