MOUNT VERNON — A laboratory-confirmed case of measles was identified on Aug. 3 in a resident residing in Knox County.
The case has completed its isolation period. The Ohio Department of Health is working with Knox Public Health (KPH) to follow up on potential exposures and promote opportunities for vaccination.
Knox Public Health is also working with the individual and their healthcare provider to identify contacts. KPH will notify the contacts and provide guidance on quarantining.
Measles is a highly contagious virus. Individuals infected with measles can spread it to others, even before they have symptoms. The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air after an infected person leaves the room.
Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after a person comes in contact with the virus, but it can take as long as 21 days for symptoms to appear.
Measles symptoms include high fever (may spike from 103° F to 105° F), cough, runny nose, pink/red, watery eyes, and a red/brown blotchy rash.
The rash will appear on the face and then spread to the trunk and extremities. Rash and other symptoms usually subside in 7 to 9 days.
According to ODH, about one out of every five people who get measles will be hospitalized. One out of every 1,000 people with measles will develop brain swelling due to infection (encephalitis) which may lead to brain damage. One to 3 out of 1,000 people with measles will die, even with the best care.
Treatment recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends all children get two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age.
Anyone traveling internationally should be fully vaccinated before traveling.
Infants 6-11 months old should get one dose of the MMR vaccine before travel, then should receive two additional doses after their first birthday.
Older children, adolescents, and adults should receive one or two doses of MMR vaccine if they do not have evidence of immunity.
If you have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, your chances of getting measles are very low. After two doses, the vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles.
Residents are encouraged to talk to their healthcare provider about vaccination if they are unvaccinated or do not know if they are vaccinated.
The MMR vaccine is safe and effective with hundreds of millions of doses given. Contact your medical provider or Knox County Community Health Center at 740-399-8008 if you have questions about measles or the MMR vaccination or would like to schedule a vaccination appointment.
If you have symptoms, stay home, avoid contact with others, and call your healthcare provider. Do not show up in the waiting room without contacting the staff first in case you are contagious.
For more information and updates, visit Knox Public Health’s website.