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4 measles cases confirmed in Ohio; 3rd outbreak declared this year
Cleveland 19 News • • health
Key Points:
- Ohio has declared its third measles outbreak in 2026, with four confirmed cases in Ashtabula and Tuscarawas counties, all involving unvaccinated individuals.
- Since the start of 2026, Ohio has reported 15 measles cases, following outbreaks earlier this year in Cuyahoga and Franklin counties; the state saw 45 cases in 2025.
- Health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination, noting that two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective in preventing measles, a highly contagious disease spread through coughing and sneezing.
- The Ohio Department of Health is actively tracing and notifying potential exposures, advising anyone suspecting infection to contact healthcare providers before visiting facilities.
- Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, with the virus capable of surviving in the air for up to two hours and spreading from four days before to four days after rash onset.
