COLUMBUS: The Ohio outbreak that helped push the annual number of U.S. measles cases to its highest total since 1996 appears to have ended, according to state health officials.
The state logged 377 cases of the highly contagious viral respiratory illness in nine counties since March in the outbreak, and nine people were hospitalized.
The end of such an outbreak is measured 42 days after the onset of the most recent case, a window based on two, 21-day incubation periods. Ohio has passed that mark because the most recent onset date was July 23.
“In a virus in a disease like this, it could appear anytime, so we’re not looking to say it’s over over,” Ohio Department of Health spokeswoman Melanie Amato said. “We’re just saying the incubation period has passed, so it’s a great sign that measles has moved on.”
Health officials determined the Ohio outbreak started among Amish in Knox County who had traveled to the Philippines, which has had a measles epidemic.
At least 592 measles cases have been reported in the United States this year, and many of those cases have a connection to the Philippines, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Ohio also has dealt with a separate outbreak of mumps, a contagious viral illness that often begins with fever, fatigue and body aches. That outbreak has contributed to a higher-than-usual count of mumps cases nationally, with at least 965 cases reported to the CDC so far this year, more than double last year’s total.
Health officials said 483 cases have been reported from central Ohio, and just over half those cases were linked to Ohio State University.
The most recent case was reported Aug. 18. That means the mumps outbreak wouldn’t be considered ended for weeks more, at the earliest.
Health officials have publicly pushed for Ohioans to be sure they’ve been properly vaccinated to help protect against the spread of measles and mumps, reiterating that message as students returned to closer contact in classrooms with the start of the school year.