Michigan state health officials have issued a health alert for attendees of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit due to a possible exposure to rubella, or German measles.

Image/Census Bureau
Image/Census Bureau

The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has been notified by another state that one of their residents who attended the Auto Show Jan. 13-15 has been diagnosed with rubella. This individual may have been contagious while in Detroit.

Rubella is a contagious disease caused by a virus. Most people who get rubella usually have a mild illness, with symptoms that can include a low-grade fever, sore throat, and a rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body.

Rubella can cause a miscarriage or serious birth defects in a developing baby if a woman is infected while she is pregnant. The best protection against rubella is MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine.

Individuals who may have been exposed and are unsure of their vaccination status should contact their healthcare provider with any questions. The last time a case of rubella was reported in Michigan was 2007.