Important Announcement: Public health officials are investigating a confirmed case of measles in Montgomery County, Ohio. The individual visited Dayton Children’s Hospital Emergency Department on January 29th (11pm-7am) and 31st (10:30am-6pm). Anyone present during these times may have been exposed.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause serious complications, particularly for young children and those with compromised immune systems. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a distinctive rash.
Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA, has reported the state’s first measles case of 2024. The infected child is from Montgomery County.
The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is working with Public Health - Dayton & Montgomery County to identify and notify those who may have been exposed.
ODH is not aware of any additional cases, and the department will continue to collaborate with Dayton and other impacted health departments on the investigation.
A case of measles has been identified in a Montgomery County resident who was evaluated at Dayton Children’s Hospital in the main campus Emergency Department at One Children’s Plaza in Dayton on January 29, 2024 and January 31, 2024. Individuals in these areas may have been exposed to measles between January 29th at 11 pm and January 30th at 7 am and on January 31st between 10:30 am and 6 pm.
Contacts of the individual are being notified by Public Health to assess their measles vaccination status, and to provide information regarding signs and symptoms of measles, and appropriate quarantine measures.
Contacts who are not fully vaccinated for measles should be immunized with measles vaccine as soon as possible after exposure. Measles vaccine given within 72 hours after exposure may prevent or reduce the severity of disease. Measles immune globulin (IG) can prevent or modify measles in a susceptible person if given within six days of exposure. IG may be especially indicated for susceptible household contacts <1 year of age, pregnant women, or immunocompromised persons, for whom the risk of complications is increased.
If you were at Dayton Children’s Hospital Emergency Department during the dates and times listed and have not been contacted by Public Health, please call 937-225-4508 so that your level of exposure can be determined, and we may recommend next steps for you.
Measles is very contagious. Children 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. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to measles will become infected. Symptoms may not occur for up to 21 days after exposure to an individual who has measles.
The last confirmed measles case in Montgomery County occurred in 2005.
Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash beginning 3-5 days after other symptoms occur. Measles can be serious, and about 1 in 5 children who get measles will be hospitalized with complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, or brain swelling.
Unvaccinated individuals are at risk of infection and severe disease. Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County urges parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from becoming infected.
“The safest way to protect children from measles is to make sure they are vaccinated,” said Dr. Becky Thomas, Medical Director, Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County. The measles vaccine is highly protective; one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides 93% protection against measles and two doses provide 97% protection. Parents should talk to their child’s doctor now, to make sure they are up-to-date with all vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection recommends all children get two doses of 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. MMR vaccine can also be given to adults, who are not vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Please note: Public Health does not provide testing or treatment for measles. If you are experiencing symptoms, avoid contact with others and seek care from your healthcare provider. Call the provider before you arrive to notify them you have a measles concern, so that further spread can be prevented.
