COLUMBUS, Ohio (WTVN)--The Ohio Department of Health has confirmed the first case of the measles in the state in 2019.
Officials say it was confirmed in a young adult in Stark County, who recently traveled to a state with confirmed cases of the measles.
It is Ohio's first confirmed case since 2017, when only one case was reported that year. Back in 2014, Ohio experienced an outbreak of 382 cases.
Sietske De Fitjer, epidemiologist and Chief of the Bureau of Infectious Disease for ODH, says vaccinations are the best way to prevent its spread.
Measles starts off as a fever and a runny rose, but is followed by a large rash, and is extremely contagious. Those infected are contagious for four days before the rash appears, and stay contagiuous for another four days after, for a total of nine days.
Up to 90-percent of people who come in contact with measles, and are not vaccinated, become infected.
22 states, and many neighboring states, are experiencing confirmed measles outbreaks.
(photo courtesy Getty Images)