Geauga Public Health confirms measles case, lists exposure sites in Geauga and Lake counties

GEAUGA AND LAKE COUNTIES, Ohio (WOIO) - Geauga Public Health is reporting a confirmed case of measles Wednesday with exposure in multiple public locations, including schools and restaurants, in both Geauga and Lake counties.

The public health department shared the following locations and the exposure times at each location last week:

The department said in a release that anyone who was at one of those locations during the time above should consider themselves exposed to measles.

Heather DiCioccio, director of nursing for the Lake County General Health District and Geauga Public Health, said the person was unvaccinated. She said officials did not yet know how many people may have been exposed.

“We’re always concerned about further spread,” DiCioccio said. “My partner and I have been working on this since the middle of July, and we’ve been partnering with the neighboring counties to try to slow this down or stop this if at all possible. We’re worried about further spread.”

The department advises that symptoms will likely appear in seven to 21 days after being at the same location as someone with measles, which would be between Monday and Nov. 28.

“So just keep an eye on how you’re feeling. Watch your general aches and pains. Watch your cold and flu-like symptoms and if you do start feeling anything like that, let your provider know,” DiCioccio said.

The health department is working with the individual with measles and their health care provider to identify known contacts, who will be notified by their local health departments and given quarantine guidance.

The department also said in the release that it is also working with Berkshire Schools and other non-public event contacts to make sure parents, and other event attendees are informed about the exposure and can take proper precautions.

People who were at one of the locations and are not immunized or do not know whether they are immune should contact their health care provider and monitor for symptoms, the department said. DiCioccio said anyone who develops symptoms should call ahead before visiting a medical office and explain that they may have been exposed.

19 News reached out to the locations identified by health officials to ask how they’re responding to the possible exposure and notifying people who may have been there. We have not yet heard back.

Here are tips on how to spot symptoms of measles and how to protect yourself, from the Ohio Department of Health:

Measles is extremely contagious and can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. It can be brought into Ohio by individuals who travel to places where measles is spreading. If people are not protected against the disease, nine out of 10 people who are exposed will become ill.

The measles vaccine (called MMR as it protects against measles, mumps and rubella) is safe and effective at preventing measles. Two doses of MMR are 97% effective against measles. If you are up to date on the measles vaccine, the risk of getting sick is extremely low.

The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch an infected surface and then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. People infected with measles can spread it to others from four days before through four days after a rash appears.

Measles symptoms include a rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite, and red, watery eyes. The rash usually lasts 5-6 days and begins at the hairline, moves to the face and upper neck, and proceeds down the body. Diarrhea and ear infections are common complications of measles. More severe complications may also occur.

Complications from measles are more common among children younger than 5 years of age, adults older than 20 years of age, pregnant women, and people with compromised immune systems. As many as one out of every 20 children with measles gets pneumonia, the most common cause of death from measles in youth.