Possible measles exposure at popular Wickliffe market

Key Points:

• Health officials in Lake County, Ohio, warn of possible measles exposure at SweetBerry Fresh Market in Wickliffe on October 3, 5, and 6 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., including two hours after the infected person left due to airborne virus persistence.
• No confirmed measles cases currently exist in Lake County, but visitors who are unvaccinated or unsure of immunity are advised to contact healthcare providers; symptoms may appear between October 10 and 27.
• Symptoms of measles include high fever, rash, cough, runny nose, loss of appetite, and red, watery eyes, with a typical onset of 7 to 21 days after exposure, potentially later in immunocompromised individuals.
• The exposure follows a recent outbreak in northeastern Ohio, with Geauga County reporting 50 cases, Wayne County 45, and Ashtabula County 41, linked to earlier public exposure sites like the July 18 Bloomfield Horse Sale.
• Measles is highly contagious and airborne for up to two hours post-exposure; two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective, with CDC recommending vaccination at 12-15 months and 4-6 years of age.