Wednesday, February 4, 2015
DAYTON, Ohio (AP) — Federal officials say Ohio had more than 300 reported measles cases last year — more than any other state.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows 383 cases of the disease reported in Ohio in 2014.
Health officials have determined that Ohio’s outbreak started among Amish in Knox County who had traveled to the Philippines, which has had a measles epidemic.
The Dayton Daily News reports that Ohio is one of the few states that allow parents to opt-out of immunizing their child for philosophical or religious reasons.
The CDC says measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to medicine. It is spread through the air via coughing and sneezing. The symptoms include fever and a rash that spreads over the body.