Ohio's Measles Outbreak Spreads South

A recent measles case in Christian County, Kentucky, has been associated with Ohio’s ongoing measles outbreak, according to Kentucky Cabinet of Health and Family Services spokesman Brice Mitchell on January 20, 2023.

WAVE3.com reported Mitchell indicated several other Kentucky residents are being monitored for measles symptoms. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after contact with the virus, and rashes appear 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms.

Measles isn’t just a little rash.

According to the CDC, measles can be dangerous, especially for young children.

The good news is measles is a vaccine-preventable disease.

Recently, the city of Louisville, Kentucky, and the Jefferson County Public Schools began conducting measles vaccination clinics for about 10,000 unvaccinated students. 

On January 18, 2023, local media reported on-campus measles clinics at Iroquois High School, Marion C. Moore School, Newcomer Academy, and Fern Creek High School on February 7, 2023.

Since June 2022, the Health Department of the City of Columbas, Ohio, and Franklin County Public Health have reported (85) confirmed measles cases in children, of which (36) were hospitalized as of January 24, 2023.

The CDC reported there were 121 measles cases in six U.S. jurisdictions in 2022.

During 2021, a total of 49 measles cases were reported by five jurisdictions.

Measles outbreaks continue to be reported worldwide, which is why the CDC recommends being fully vaccinated before visiting measles-outbreak countries such as India and Nigeria.