Hancock County health officials have been tracing contacts since Friday after a measles case was confirmed in the county, Health Commissioner Lindsay Summit told WTVG.
Summit said the department used social media to publish places the infected person had visited, aiming to reach anyone who may have shared those spaces and alert them to possible exposure. Residents who sent their details to the department's website formed the basis of an exposure list, she said.
Those individuals have been contacted and are being watched for symptoms across a 21-day window, according to Summit. Several days into that period, no further cases had been reported.
Summit urged anyone who suspects measles symptoms to phone ahead rather than arriving unannounced at an emergency room or other medical facility, saying that step helps protect others. A sign carrying that guidance is now up at the Wood County Health Department, which has also recently reported a measles case. Wood County officials said Monday their count remains at one and that they continue investigating potential exposure.
Asked about the recent rise in cases across Lucas, Wood and Hancock counties, Summit pointed to a possible connection with falling vaccination rates, citing data on the Ohio Department of Health's website. She also noted measles is highly contagious when traveling.
Vaccines are available through county health departments or local pharmacies, the report said.