BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — The Wood County Health Department has confirmed a case of measles in Bowling Green and is warning residents that several locations across the city may have been exposure sites.
Health officials released a list of places the infected individual visited while contagious, warning that anyone who was at those locations during the listed times may have been exposed. Officials said the sites include Bowling Green State University and other venues around the community, and urged anyone with symptoms or concerns to contact their health care provider.
Measles is a highly contagious viral illness that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Symptoms typically begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, followed by a distinctive rash. People are considered protected if they were born before 1957, have documented measles vaccination, or were previously diagnosed with the illness by a health care provider.
Officials are asking anyone who visited the exposure sites to monitor for symptoms for 21 days after the visit. Those who are unvaccinated or unsure of their vaccination status are urged to call their health care provider as soon as possible. Vaccination with the MMR vaccine remains the most effective protection against the disease.
The Wood County confirmation comes amid a regional resurgence of the virus. Hancock Public Health confirmed a measles case in Findlay in late September tied to visits at an urgent care clinic and a hospital emergency department, and neighboring jurisdictions have reported additional infections in recent weeks.
Health officials say the exposure-site list may be updated as the investigation continues. Residents with questions can contact the Wood County Health Department directly for the latest guidance.
