Two people who tested positive for measles may have exposed others at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center's emergency department on Monday, Sept. 14.
The Cincinnati Health Department announced Thursday, Sept. 17, that two out-of-state residents arrived at the Burnet Avenue ER around 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 14 with symptoms consistent with measles. Test results confirmed the diagnosis and that both were contagious during their visit, Fox 19 reported. Cincinnati Children's is the primary pediatric emergency department for families across Montgomery, Blue Ash and Sycamore Township.
Health officials identified two windows when others in the ER's shared public spaces could have been exposed:
- Monday, Sept. 14: 5:40 p.m. to 7:48 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 14, into Tuesday, Sept. 15: 11:15 p.m. to 1:15 a.m.
The exposure risk does not apply to any other area of Cincinnati Children's or to times outside those windows, the health department said.
Both patients contracted measles in their home state, which the department did not identify. They have been discharged and returned home. The department said there are no active measles cases in Cincinnati.
What to do if you were there
The health department and Cincinnati Children's are calling people they have identified as potentially exposed. Anyone who visited the ER during those windows and has not been contacted should call the Cincinnati Health Department at (513) 357-7462.
The department warned that anyone showing measles symptoms should call a medical provider first rather than walking into a clinic or hospital unannounced. Symptoms include rash, high fever, runny nose, cough, loss of appetite and red, watery eyes. They typically appear five to 10 days after exposure but can take up to 21 days, according to WLWT.
Ohio measles cases top 130 in 2026
The exposure comes as Ohio grapples with a measles surge. The state has recorded roughly 133 cases so far in 2026, according to WKRC. The U.S. is experiencing its highest number of measles cases since 1991, Hamilton County Public Health noted in a Sept. 9 advisory.
Measles is highly contagious. An infected person can spread the virus to up to 90% of unvaccinated people nearby, according to Hamilton County Public Health. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after the person leaves.
The two-dose measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine series is 97% effective at preventing the disease. Anyone who has not been vaccinated should speak with a healthcare provider, the Cincinnati Health Department said.
