Health officials confirm first measles case this year in Ohio

STARK COUNTY — The first measles case in Ohio this year has been confirmed in Stark County, according to the Ohio Department of Health.

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The case was confirmed in a young adult who recently traveled to a state that has confirmed cases of measles, Ohio Department of Health Director Amy Acton said in a media release Friday morning.

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Additional details about the infected person were not released.

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This is Ohio’s first confirmed measles case since 2017. The state is five years removed from a measles outbreak where 382 cases were reported in 2014.

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Currently 1,109 individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 28 states, including neighboring states, in 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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

Measles is considered extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing or sneezing, according to health officials. Up to 90% of individuals who come into contact with an infected person who are not immune will also become infected, health officials said.

Symptoms of measles include rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red, watery eyes.

We’ll continue to update this story as we learn more.