BUTLER COUNTY, Ohio — Health officials have confirmed a case of measles in an infant under the age of 1 in Butler County.
The baby contracted measles while traveling internationally, returned to the United States at an airport near Chicago, and then drove to Ohio, according to a statement from the Butler County General Health Department (BCGHD). The department has not released any additional information about the case, the statement said.
On Independence Day, July 4th, staff were tasked with notifying close contacts of the infection status.
“If you do not receive a call from BCGHD, it is safe to assume that you do not have measles,” the press release said.
According to the health department, measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and a rash. There is no specific treatment for measles, the statement said.
“The best way to protect yourself and your family from measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases is to get vaccinated,” the statement said.
Health officials generally recommend that anyone aged 1 year and older who has not been vaccinated get vaccinated against measles to protect themselves and those around them.
Children should receive their first dose of measles vaccine between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and another dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
According to the statement, in the United States, the first dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is often administered at age 12 months, but it may also be recommended for infants as young as 6 months who may be exposed to the vaccine while traveling outside the United States or during an outbreak.
If you are unsure of your child or yourself’s vaccination status, if you have not been vaccinated against measles, or if you think you may be experiencing symptoms of measles, you are encouraged to contact your health care provider.
For questions or to schedule a vaccination appointment, please call the Butler County General Health Department at 513-863-1770.
More information about measles can be found on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website at www.cdc.gov/measles.
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