The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed its first case of measles in 2025, marking an increase in reported cases following a trend seen in previous years.
According to the ODH, the infected individual is an unvaccinated adult from Ashtabula County who recently traveled abroad and came into contact with someone carrying the disease. This person’s lack of vaccination makes them highly susceptible to measles, which has a 90% infection rate after exposure without a vaccine.
The ODH director emphasizes the importance of getting vaccinated, stating that “this disease can be very serious but is preventable” through the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. Two doses of MMR are 97% effective against measles, significantly reducing the risk of infection for those who are up-to-date on their vaccinations.
Symptoms of measles include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red, watery eyes. The rash typically lasts around 5-6 days and starts at the hairline before spreading to the face and down the body.
The ODH advises that those interested in learning more about measles can visit the CDC website or review their own state’s measles FAQ page for general information and immunization schedules.
Source: https://www.fox19.com/2025/03/21/ohio-health-department-confirms-first-case-measles