Ohio has reported its first measles case of 2025, marking a concerning development as the United States faces one of its largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
The Ohio Department of Health confirmed that the case was identified in an unvaccinated adult in Ashtabula County. According to Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, the individual recently came into contact with someone who had traveled internationally, underscoring how easily the disease can spread.
“The fact that we now have a measles case in Ohio adds emphasis to the importance of being fully vaccinated,” Vanderhoff said in a statement. “This disease can be very serious, but it is preventable. I strongly encourage you to protect yourselves and your children by getting vaccinated.”
Measles cases in Ohio have fluctuated in recent years, with the state reporting seven cases in 2024, one in 2023, and 90 in 2022. While these numbers may seem low compared to historical outbreaks, the resurgence of measles across the U.S. has raised alarms among public health officials.
A Growing National Crisis
Ohio’s latest case comes as the country battles a significant surge in measles infections. Nationwide, cases have already surpassed last year’s total, with infections particularly concentrated in Texas and New Mexico. As of Tuesday, the number of cases in these two states had climbed to 317, up from 294 just four days prior.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the nation is on track to reach approximately 1,200 measles cases in 2025—a nearly fivefold increase from the previous year. The last time the U.S. saw numbers this high was in 2019 when 1,274 cases were recorded, the most since 1992.
Texas has been at the center of the outbreak, with Gaines County reporting 191 cases and 36 patients hospitalized statewide. New Mexico has reported 38 cases, mostly in Lea County, which borders Gaines County. Oklahoma has also identified four probable cases linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks.
Tragically, measles has already claimed at least one life this year. In February, an unvaccinated child with no underlying health conditions died of the disease in Texas, marking the first measles-related fatality in the U.S. since 2015. Health officials in New Mexico are investigating the death of an unvaccinated adult that may also be linked to measles.
The Importance of Vaccination
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
It can remain airborne for up to two hours and has a 90% transmission rate among unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus. Complications can be severe, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and death.
Experts emphasize that vaccination remains the most effective way to prevent the disease. The CDC recommends that children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine in two doses: the first at 12-15 months and the second at 4-6 years old. A vaccination rate of 95% or higher is necessary to maintain herd immunity and prevent outbreaks.
With measles making a comeback, health officials urge Ohioans to check their vaccination status and take necessary precautions.
