Provided by Allen County Health Department, March 28, 2025

A case of measles has been identified in an unvaccinated Allen County resident under the age of 18. Contacts of the individual have been notified by public health professionals with Allen County Public Health and other health departments in the area to assess their measles vaccination status, and to provide information regarding signs and symptoms of measles and appropriate quarantine measures. 

Measles is very contagious. Children infected with measles can spread it to others, even before they have symptoms. The measles virus can live for up to two hours in the air after an infected person leaves the room. Nine out of 10 unvaccinated children who are exposed to measles will become infected.  Symptoms may not occur for up to 21 days after exposure to an individual who has measles.  MORE ▶︎

Symptoms of measles can include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a rash beginning 3-5 days after other symptoms occur. Measles can be serious, and about 1 in 5 children who get measles will be hospitalized with complications such as pneumonia, dehydration, or brain swelling.  

Unvaccinated individuals are at risk of infection and severe disease. Allen County Public Health urges parents to vaccinate their children to protect them from becoming infected. 

“The safest way to protect children from measles is to make sure they are vaccinated,” said Brandon Fischer, Health Commissioner, Allen County Public Health. The measles vaccine is highly protective; one dose of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine provides 93% protection against measles and two doses provide 97% protection. Parents should talk to their child’s doctor now, to make sure they are up-to date with all vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Protection recommends all children get two doses of MMR vaccine, starting with the first dose at 12 through 15 months of age, and the second dose at 4 through 6 years of age. MMR vaccine can also be given to adults, who are not vaccinated, or whose vaccination status is unknown. 

Please note: Allen County Public Health does not provide testing or treatment for measles. If you are experiencing symptoms, avoid contact with others and seek care from your healthcare provider. Call the provider before you arrive to notify them you have a measles concern, so that further spread can be prevented. 

If you are unvaccinated, or do not know if you are vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider about vaccination. The MMR vaccine is safe and effective with hundreds of millions of doses given. Contact your local pharmacy or healthcare provider to get vaccinated. In addition, Allen County Public Health provides MMR vaccinations at its clinic located at, 219 E. Market St. in downtown Lima. To schedule an appointment, call 419-228-4457, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.