While runny-nosed kids are known for spreading a myriad of mystery illnesses, health officials have confirmed that measles was not one of them following a potential exposure at Heritage Bank Center in March.
The Cincinnati Health Department (CHD) previously warned of a potential measles outbreak after the department was notified of a measles exposure at a Disney on Ice show at Heritage Bank Center on March 8. The individual who contracted measles was not a Cincinnati resident, according to CHD.
After a 21-day observation period, CHD confirmed in an April 15 news release that the individual case did not spread to other guests of the Disney show. The department credited the MMR vaccine (which protects against the viral infections measles, mumps and rubella) for preventing an outbreak.
“We took prompt action following the news of thousands of people having been exposed to measles because this is a very infectious disease, much more infectious that COVID for those who are not immune,” said Grant Mussman, CHD commissioner. “Fortunately, most individuals have received the MMR vaccine, which provides robust protection against measles. This is yet another example of the importance of being up to date with important vaccines so we can minimize the risk of preventable viral infections.”
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that can cause fever, cough, runny nose, white spots inside the mouth and body rashes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Rare cases can sometimes result in pneumonia, brain swelling or death.
The infection has already cemented itself as a national problem in 2024. According to an April 11 report from the CDC, there have already been 120 cases of measles in the United States in 2024, more than double the number for all of 2023.
The report says the risk for a widespread measles outbreak remains low in the U.S. because of "high population immunity" but that vaccination numbers could be better.
"National 2-dose MMR vaccination coverage has remained below the Healthy People 2030 target of 95% [...] for 3 consecutive years," the report reads. "[This leaves] approximately 250,000 kindergarten children susceptible to measles each year."
The CDC data shows that more than 80% of cases so far in 2024 involved people who were not vaccinated, or those whose vaccination status was unknown. About 13% of cases involved people who only received one of the two recommended measles vaccine doses.
