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.

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.
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Except for flu and tetanus vaccines, I haven’t had any vaccines for over 40 years. Should I get the MMR?