COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Department of Health reported the state’s first measles case of 2024 on Saturday.
According to Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County, the case was discovered in a Montgomery County resident who was evaluated at Dayton Children's Hospital on Jan. 29 and Jan. 31.
The department is working with ODH to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed. Those who were at Dayton Children’s Hospital Emergency Department between Jan. 29 at 11 p.m. and Jan. 30 at 7 a.m. as well as Jan. 31 between 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. are asked to call 937-225-4508 if they have not already been contacted.
No additional cases have been discovered as of Sunday.
The last confirmed measles case in Montgomery County happened in 2005.
Last year, the state had one measles case reported and 90 in 2022, when an outbreak centered around central Ohio totaled 85 cases. The 2022 cases were the first in the state since 2019.
ODH reports that measles cases have been increasing internationally and the virus is highly contagious. It can spread through coughing and sneezing.
If one person has measles, up to 90% of those who come into contact with that person and who are not immune will also be infected.
“Measles can be a very serious illness for anyone,” ODH Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, said. “The key to preventing measles is vaccination. If you are not vaccinated, we strongly encourage you to get the vaccine.”
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all children get two doses of the MMR vaccine. The first dose should be given at age 12-15 months and the second dose at 4-6 years old. Adults born after 1957 can also receive the vaccine if they did not receive it previously.
ODH says the measles virus can live up to two hours in the air where an infected person coughed or sneezed. Others who breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and touch their eyes, nose, or mouths can then become infected as well.
Symptoms of the measles virus include:
- Rash
- High fever
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Loss of appetite
- Red, watery eyes
You can learn more about signs, symptoms and prevention here.