1st Measles Case Of 2019 Confirmed In Ohio

An adult in Stark County has been diagnosed with measles, Ohio's first measles case of 2019, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) announced on Friday. This is the first confirmed measles case in Ohio since 2017.

More than half of U.S. states, 28, have confirmed measles cases in 2019. Several states are currently battling measles outbreaks, the Ohio Department of Health said. Ohio's last measles outbreak was in 2014, when there were 382 confirmed cases statewide.

“Vaccinations save lives, period. I urge everyone who can, to get vaccinated,” said ODH Director Dr. Amy Acton. “Vaccination is the safest, most effective way to prevent serious vaccine-preventable diseases in children and adults, including measles.”

According to the ODH, measles is extremely contagious and can spread through the air. An infected person is likely to spread measles to 90-percent of the people they come in contact with.

The measles virus can survive for up to two hours in the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. If anyone comes in contact with the air, or a surface that was infected, and then touches their eyes, noses, or mouth, they can become infected.

Measles symptoms can manifest four days after a person is infected. Symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite and red, watery eyes. The rash can last five to six days and tends to begin at the hairline before moving to the face, upper neck and then down the body.

With measles being extremely contagious, vaccination against the infection becomes even more important. Acton emphasized the importance of all Ohio residents getting vaccinations against measles, particularly school-age children.

“One thing is really important – vaccination is critical. We are lucky to have a high vaccination rate in Stark County and Ohio, so the vast majority of the public is protected,” said Kirkland Norris, Health Commissioner, Stark County Health Department.

Nearly all of Ohio's neighboring states, including Michigan, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Kentucky have confirmed cases of measles. Between January 1, 2019 and June 3, 2019, there were 1,103 confirmed measles cases nationwide — the largest number since the infection was declared "eliminated" in 2000, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.

Last year, there were a total of 382 measles cases in the U.S.