News & Resources

Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County asked MCMS to share the Ohio Department of Health’s October 5, 2026 measles alert.

As of October 1, ODH reported 206 measles cases in Ohio in 2026, primarily among unvaccinated residents in rural communities in eastern Ohio.

The alert emphasizes several actions for healthcare practices:

• Recognize and isolate: Consider measles in patients with fever, a compatible rash, and cough, runny nose, or conjunctivitis. Keep suspected cases out of waiting rooms and common areas.
• Protect staff: Use standard and airborne precautions, including an N95 or higher-level respirator, regardless of vaccination status.
• Coordinate testing and exposure follow-up: Contact local public health officials for assistance and notify receiving facilities before referring a suspected case.
• Report immediately: Suspected cases, confirmed cases, and positive laboratory results must be reported by telephone to the local health department where the patient resides. Do not wait for laboratory confirmation to report a suspected case.

Additional visual resource: A video showing measles rash on different skin tones is available on Facebook.

Watch: Measles on Different Skin Tones

Source for the clinical summary: Ohio Department of Health, October 5, 2026 alert. Shared at the request of Public Health – Dayton & Montgomery County.