Health officials stress vaccination as Ohio measles outbreak grows
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — Ashtabula County has now recorded ten cases of the measles, with one of those infected known to have exposed others in Knox County in central Ohio.
This jump in cases is not unexpected, but health officials are scrambling to stop the spread as the risk of more outbreaks continues to grow.
As of March 20, the CDC reports just over 375 measles cases in the U.S., and that's not including the recent outbreak in Ohio.
In an announcement from the director of the Ohio Department of Health, Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff says 'given the measles activity in Texas, New Mexico and other states around the country, we're disappointed but not surprised we now have several cases here in Ohio.'
ODH officials report all of the individuals who contracted measles were unvaccinated. Vaccines have greatly lowered the threat of measles, but it is still a highly contagious disease.
'Typically what we see is it's spreading through the air. And a lot of times you might develop a cough, a high fever and eventually you can develop the rash,' said Shandy Dearth, director of public health practice at Indiana University. 'But you can spread it before you have any of those symptoms.'
Ashtabula County with ten cases, is less than 300 miles from Dayton, and Knox County where an infected person exposed others is only 114 miles away — making the spread of measles closer than you may thing.
Health officials remain adamant that vaccination is the best defense against the virus.
'The one that we have right now is alive but innocuous virus that you get as a part of the measles, mumps, rubella shot,' said Richard Kuhn, professor of biological sciences at Purdue University. 'The measles vaccine is one of the safest vaccines that we actually have.'
Typically, the MMR vaccine is given to children in two doses between 12 and 15 months old, but anyone can the get vaccine at any age.
ODH has said that the most vulnerable groups are young children, pregnant women and those who are immunocompromised.
Officials stress that if you or your children have not gotten the MMR vaccine, they strongly encourage you do so.
To learn more about the MMR vaccine, click here.
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