LIMA, Ohio (WLIO) - Allen County Public Health has provided an update following the county’s first measles case last week.
As of Monday, Health Commissioner Brandon Fischer said there are no additional confirmed measles cases, with the county’s total remaining at one. Last Friday, the health department confirmed that an unvaccinated Allen County resident under 18 years old contracted measles. Since then, Allen County Public Health has continued investigating and notifying anyone who may have been exposed.
“We are doing our investigation following up with any contacts of that individual who had tested positive and monitoring them for symptoms. If they had exposure to them, they're monitoring their symptoms for 21 days and reporting any abnormal symptoms to us here or in the county where they're at to that local health department to inform them of any potential issues that they have,” says Brandon Fischer, Health Commissioner, Allen County Public Health.
Fischer is also stressing the importance of the MMR vaccine to reduce the risk of infection.
Fischer is also stressing the importance of the MMR vaccine to reduce the risk of infection.
“We are making recommendations to anyone out in the public who may have not had the MMR vaccine or it's been a while since they've had the MMR vaccine to contact their health provider to see if it is appropriate for them to get that vaccine. It is a very effective vaccine. It works 93% effective after 1 dose and 97% effective after 2 doses, so it is a very good vaccine and protects you from measles. And not only that, if you're not vaccinated, you have a 90% chance of contracting measles,” Fischer adds.
Symptoms of measles can include fever, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash that typically appears three to five days after other symptoms.
Symptoms of measles can include fever, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash that typically appears three to five days after other symptoms. If you believe you have been exposed, contact your healthcare provider.
