COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio health officials have confirmed the state’s third measles outbreak of 2026, with four unvaccinated people infected in Ashtabula and Tuscarawas counties.
Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff said the outbreak includes three cases in Ashtabula County and one in Tuscarawas County. The infected individuals range in age from 4 to 30 years old.
Ohio has now reported 15 measles cases this year, following earlier outbreaks in Cuyahoga County in January and Franklin County in February. The state recorded 45 cases in 2025, seven in 2024 and one in 2023.
Health officials are working with local health departments to identify potential exposures and encourage vaccination.
“It’s unfortunate that these outbreaks have become more common in Ohio over the past few years, because this disease is preventable,” Vanderhoff said. “This serves to emphasize the importance of being fully vaccinated.”
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through coughing and sneezing. According to the Ohio Department of Health, two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing the disease.
Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and a rash that typically begins on the face before spreading across the body. Health officials say young children, older adults, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face the highest risk of serious complications.
Last Updated on July 31, 2026 by AVC News
