Ashtabula County resident tests positive for measles
An Ashtabula County resident tested positive for measles this week, according to Thursday press releases from the Ashtabula County Health Department and Ohio Department of Health.
Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the county resident who tested positive is an adult.
The ACHD release said the case completed its isolation period, and both departments are following up on other potential exposures.
The infected person's family has been isolated and is being monitored for symptoms, Becker said.
He said this is the only positive case they have right now.
'We're hoping that other cases are contained,' Becker said.
The ACHD found out about the positive test soon before the releases went out, Becker said.
This is the first measles case in Ohio this year, according to the ODH.
'Ohio had 90 cases of measles in 2022, when an outbreak centered in central Ohio totaled 85 cases,' the ODH release states. 'The state had one measles case in 2023 and seven in 2024.'
The individual who became infected was unvaccinated, and had contact with a person who traveled internationally, according to ODH.
'Measles' prevalence has been increasing recently internationally, and there are ongoing outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico,' according to the OHD.
Measles is extremely contagious and spreads through coughing and sneezing, according to the ACHD release.
'Individuals can spread it to others, even before they have symptoms,' the ACHD said.
The virus can live up to two hours in the air, and symptoms can manifest between seven to 21 days after exposure.
About one in five people who get measles will he hospitalized, according to the ACHD release.
'Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash beginning 3-5 days after other symptoms occur,' the ACHD release states.
Complications of measles include pneumonia, dehydration, brain swelling, diarrhea and ear infections.
Complications are common for children under five, adults above 20, pregnant women and immunocompromised people, and can lead to death, according to ODH.
Becker said being vaccinated against the disease is a priority.
'Everyone needs to take an inventory case of their vaccinations,' he said.
Becker said children between five and 15 are very susceptible to the disease.
Parents should check their children's vaccination status, he said.
The measles vaccine is safe and very effective against the disease, according to the ODH release.
'Two doses of MMR is 97% effective against measles,' the ODH release said. 'If you are up to date on measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is very low.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
RFK Jr fires entire US vaccine committee
Robert F Kennedy Jr has dismissed all current members of a key federal vaccine advisory panel, accusing them of conflicts of interest. The removal of all 17 experts of the advisory committee on immunisation practices was revealed in a Wall Street Journal op-ed and an official press release. Mr Kennedy, the US health secretary, who has spent two decades amplifying vaccine misinformation, cast the move as essential to restoring public trust, claiming the committee had been compromised by financial ties to pharmaceutical companies. 'Today we are prioritising the restoration of public trust above any specific pro or anti-vaccine agenda,' he said in a statement from the Department of Health and Human Services. 'The public must know that unbiased science – evaluated through a transparent process and insulated from conflicts of interest – guides the recommendations of our health agencies.' In his op-ed, Mr Kennedy claimed the panel was 'plagued with persistent conflicts of interest' and had become 'little more than a rubber stamp for any vaccine'. He added that new members were being considered to replace those ousted, all of whom were appointed under Joe Biden, the former president. Committee members are chosen for their recognised expertise and are required to disclose potential conflicts of interest. 'RFK Jr and the Trump administration are taking a wrecking ball to the programs that keep Americans safe and healthy,' Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said in response. Republican Senator Bill Cassidy, a medical doctor who expressed concern about Mr Kennedy's track record during his Senate nomination but ultimately voted in his favour, wrote on X: 'Of course, now the fear is that the ACIP will be filled up with people who know nothing about vaccines except suspicion. 'I've just spoken with Secretary Kennedy, and I'll continue to talk with him to ensure this is not the case.' The decision drew sharp criticism from Paul Offit, a paediatrician and leading expert on virology and immunology, who served on the panel from 1998 to 2003. 'He believes that anybody who speaks well of vaccines, or recommends vaccines, must be deeply in the pocket of industry,' Mr Offit told AFP. 'He's fixing a problem that doesn't exist.' 'We are witnessing an escalating effort by the administration to silence independent medical expertise and stoke distrust in life-saving vaccines,' added Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Paediatrics, in a statement. Once a celebrated environmental lawyer, Kennedy pivoted to public health from the mid-2000s, chairing a non-profit that discouraged routine childhood immunisations and amplified false claims, including the long-debunked theory that the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine causes autism. Since taking office, he has curtailed access to Covid shots and continued to raise fears around the MMR vaccine even as the US faces its worst measles outbreak in years, with three reported deaths and more than 1,100 confirmed cases. Experts have warned that the true case count is likely to be far higher. 'How can this country have confidence that the people RFK Jr. wants on the advisory committee on immunisation practices are people we can trust?' asked Mr Offit. He recalled that during Donald Trump's first term as US president, several states formed independent vaccine advisory panels after the administration pressured federal health agencies to prematurely approve Covid vaccines ahead of the 2020 election. He warned that kind of fragmentation could happen again. The advisory committee on immunisation practices is scheduled to hold its next meeting at the headquarters of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta from June 25 to June 27. Vaccines for anthrax, Covid, human papillomavirus, influenza, Lyme disease, respiratory syncytial virus, and more are on the agenda. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Yahoo
2 new measles cases announced in Colorado: Exposure locations, current number of cases
DENVER (KDVR) — Two new measles cases have been announced in Colorado, this time in El Paso and Arapahoe counties. The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment said in the El Paso County case, a child under the age of 5 years old has a confirmed case of measles after traveling with family to Ontario, Canada, where there is an ongoing measles outbreak. The child has one dose of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, CDPHE said. Measles outbreaks in Michigan and Pennsylvania end, while Texas logs just 4 new cases The second case involves an unvaccinated Arapahoe County adult. The person was at Denver International Airport on Tuesday, May 13, which is during the exposure period from a Turkish Airlines passenger who flew while infectious and landed at DIA. This brings the total number of measles cases to 14 in the state, with Arapahoe, Denver and El Paso counties each having four cases, and Pueblo and Archuleta counties each having one. Here are the possible exposure locations for measles from the newly announced cases. Anyone who was there should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure and avoid public gatherings or high-risk settings. Location Date/time When symptoms may develop Powers Pointe Urgent Care5607 Barnes RoadColorado Springs, CO 80917 Tuesday, June 39:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Through June 24 HCA HealthONE Aurora (Medical Center of Aurora) Emergency Department1501 S. Potomac CO 80012 Thursday, June 54:55 – 10:05 p.m. Through June 26 Safeway1200 S. Buckley RoadAurora, CO 80017 Friday, June 64 – 6:15 p.m. Through June 27 St. Francis Medical Center Emergency Department6001 E. Woodmen RoadColorado Springs, CO 80923 Saturday, June 79:30 – 10:50 a.m. Through June 28 UCHealth University of Colorado Hospital Emergency Department12605 E. 16th CO 80045 Saturday, June 72 – 4:10 p.m. Through June 28 There are further exposure locations in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Denver, Evergreen, Glendale, Grand Junction, Greenwood Village and Windsor. All locations and time frames have been listed on CDPHE's website here. Anyone who was at the above locations during the exposure window and develops symptoms should immediately contact their health provider by phone. If you do not have a provider, call urgent care or an emergency department and explain your measles exposure. Calling ahead helps limit further exposures. Measles vaccination rates drop after COVID-19 pandemic in counties across the US Measles is highly contagious and can spread through the air via coughs and sneezes. The disease can remain in the air up to two hours after the person has left. The best way to protect yourself and your loved ones is through the MMR vaccine, according to CDPHE. Two doses of the MMR vaccination are about 97% effective in preventing measles, CDPHE has repeatedly stated. 'In rare cases, people who are vaccinated can still get measles, but their symptoms are usually milder, and they are less likely to spread it to others,' CDPHE explained in a release. About 93.7% of Colorado children have the MMR vaccination, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella and varicella. That's below the goal threshold of 95% for community immunity. Coloradans can check their own or their child's immunization records through the state's Immunization Information System public portal. If your provider has not reported vaccines, some records may be incomplete. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Yahoo
A northern Arizona county is reporting 4 measles cases, the state's first in 2025
Health officials in Navajo County in northern Arizona say they've confirmed four measles cases, which are the first cases of the highly contagious respiratory virus in Arizona in 2025. The announcement from the Navajo County Public Health Services District June 9 came amid a national surge of measles, with 1,168 cases reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control as of June 6, which is more than four times the number reported during all of 2024. Compounding the threat for Arizonans are recent cases in five neighboring states: California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and Utah. The four cases in Navajo County involve people who were not vaccinated against measles. The four were infected from a single source and have a recent history of international travel, health district officials say. Public health officials are trying to identify locations where exposure may have happened and are in the process of identifying people who may have been exposed, the Navajo County health district said in a written statement. Officials estimate the "potential exposure" dates were between May 17 and May 28 and said anyone who may have been exposed should monitor for symptoms for 21 days after exposure. Symptoms include a high fever of more than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, a cough, runny nose, red or watery eyes and a rash beginning at the head and spreading downward A measles outbreak that began earlier this year in Texas killed two unvaccinated school-age children, resulted in 94 hospitalizations and totaled 742 cases overall. In a related outbreak, New Mexico health officials as of June 3 reported 81 measles cases and the death of one adult who tested positive for measles. Arizona is particularly vulnerable to a measles outbreak because community protection has been waning as an increasing number of parents and guardians are choosing not to vaccinate their children with the Measles, Mumps and Rubella vaccine, known as MMR. There likely are several reasons for the decline, including problems accessing the vaccine, vaccine skepticism and a lack of scientifically accurate education about the risks and benefits of immunization against vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles. Measles can affect people of any age and cause an array of complications, including deafness, blindness and brain inflammation, in addition to death. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in protecting against measles infection, evidence shows. Reach health care reporter Stephanie Innes at or follow her on X: @stephanieinnes. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona confirms 4 measles cases amid a national surge
