COLUMBUS — Ohio’s first case of measles for 2025 was reported in an infected adult who was not vaccinated in Ashtabula County this week, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
“The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” said Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, director of the Ohio Department of Health.
Ohio had 90 cases of measles in 2022, when an outbreak was centered in central Ohio. The state had one measles case in 2023 and seven in 2024.
There are ongoing outbreaks in Texas, which reports 309 cases, and New Mexico, which reports 42 cases. In 2024, there were a total of 285 measles cases reported in 33 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Michigan’s Oakland County has reported one case this month.
The individual in Ashtabula County had been in contact with someone who had recently traveled internationally. Ashtabula County is Ohio’s northeasternmost county.
Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. It can be transmitted by individuals who travel. If not vaccinated, nine out of 10 people who are exposed will become ill, according to the Ohio Department of Health.
First Published March 21, 2025, 4:43 p.m.
