What you need to know about measles
A measles outbreak is spreading across a Washington county known for choosing not to vaccinate its children, and health officials have declared a public health emergency.
USA TODAY
An out-of-town visitor who stayed downtown last week has tested positive for measles, according to the Cincinnati Health Department.
In a news release, health department officials said the infected person from Illinois flew from Chicago to CVG and took a Lyft to the Hyatt Regency on West Fifth Street downtown around 9 p.m. Wednesday. Then, he stopped at Morton’s Steakhouse on Vine Street for takeout.
More: What is measles? How does it spread? What to know about the virus
The health department says Hyatt staff, guests or visitors after 9 p.m. Wednesday may have been exposed. Any Morton’s Steakhouse guest around 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. that night also may have been exposed.
Anyone who was at those locations during those hours and develops symptoms should get tested for measles and isolate. Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash beginning three to five days after symptoms occur.
Any person who may have been exposed and develops symptoms – high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash beginning 3-5 days after other symptoms occur – should isolate and call their doctor to arrange for testing.
Contact the Cincinnati Health Department at 513-357-7462 for further information. Do not go to the emergency room or urgent care for testing.
The last time a measles case was reported in Cincinnati was from another nonresident. An out-of-towner who attended the March 8 “Disney on Ice” show at Heritage Bank Center later tested positive for the disease.
Health department officials recommend all individuals check their immunity status. Immunity is reliably conferred by the MMR vaccine, which is part of routine childhood immunizations. Further information about measles and measles immunity can be found at https://www.cdc.gov/measles/about/faqs.html.
The risk for those who have been vaccinated for measles or had measles is very low, health department officials said.
As of Thursday, the most recent data available, 121 measles cases across 18 jurisdictions were reported in the U.S. in 2024. Those who tested positive were in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New York City, New York state, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington.
