(Cleveland, January 9, 2026) — Health officials are urging increased measles vaccinations in Northern Kentucky and Ohio following a confirmed outbreak in the Cleveland area and potential exposure near Cincinnati.
An outbreak of measles in Ohio and a recent exposure in Kentucky are prompting health experts to emphasize the importance of vaccination against the highly contagious disease.
- An outbreak of measles has been confirmed in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, impacting three unvaccinated children.
- A person with measles visited the Ark Encounter in Northern Kentucky ten days ago, potentially exposing others.
- Health officials report that only 77% of kindergarteners in Hamilton County, Ohio, met the MMR vaccine requirement last year, among the lowest rates in the state.
- Experts emphasize that the measles vaccine is the best way to protect against the highly contagious virus.
Doctors at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Northern Kentucky are monitoring the situation after a person with measles visited the Ark Encounter in Williamstown and stayed at a nearby Holiday Inn Express in Dry Ridge. Dr. Mark Kolar of St. Elizabeth Physicians said, “Fortunately, at this point, we haven’t heard of any other cases besides the one case that we know about.” However, he cautioned that the region remains at risk, as measles symptoms can appear up to three weeks after exposure.
“You’re looking for the, you know, the normal symptoms of cough, you know — runny nose, eye drainage, irritation, and then a rash that develops,” Kolar said.
On Thursday, Ohio health officials announced an outbreak of measles impacting three unvaccinated children from the same household in Cuyahoga County. Both Kolar and Dr. Kelli Williams, an infectious disease expert with UC Health, expressed hope that these events will encourage higher vaccination rates. “Measles is, like, one of the most infectious organism out there,” Williams said. She advocated for vaccination, stating, “I would advocate for everybody who’s eligible, eligible to please get the vaccine. It really is the best way that you can protect yourself.”
Kolar echoed this sentiment, saying, “For those that are worried, haven’t been vaccinated, this is a great opportunity not to be, you know, not to be scared.” He added, “You know, vaccines are safe and that we should be getting vaccinated as our, as our best protection.”
According to the Ohio Department of Health, only 77% of kindergarteners in Hamilton County, which includes Cincinnati, met the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine requirement for the last school year. This rate is among the lowest in the state.
What This Means for You
The low vaccination rate in Hamilton County, coupled with the recent measles outbreak and exposure, highlights the ongoing risk of resurgence for this highly contagious disease. Measles is preventable with the MMR vaccine, and health officials are urging anyone who is eligible to get vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children get two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered between 12 and 15 months of age and the second dose between 4 and 6 years of age. Adults born in 1957 or later who have not been vaccinated or do not have evidence of immunity should also receive the vaccine. This is particularly important for those who travel internationally, as measles remains common in many parts of the world.
