PORT CLINTON — Ottawa County Health Commissioner Gerald “Jerry” Bingham confirmed today that(Friday) that the county has identified its first case of measles in recent history.
The current risk to the general public is “very low,” he said, but the department has moved into an active containment phase to prevent a localized outbreak.
Here are the five critical takeaways from the Health Commissioner regarding the status of the virus in our community:
Active Quarantines: Following a coordinated contact tracing effort with the Ohio Department of Health, two individuals have been placed under official quarantine protocols to monitor for symptoms.
No Longer Contagious: The primary confirmed case is no longer considered infectious. The Health Department was notified of the positive test result this past Wednesday and has already completed the initial tracing of anyone who may have been exposed.
A “Matter of Time”: Bingham noted that while this is the first case in his five-year tenure, he wasn’t entirely surprised. With rising cases nationally and a recent outbreak in Michigan (defined as two or more cases), the Commissioner stated it was “just a matter of time” before a case reached Ottawa County.
The Protection Gap: For those worried about exposure, the Commissioner said two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective. He urged residents—particularly those planning travel—to verify their vaccination status immediately.
How to Check Your Status: Residents who are unsure of their immunity or vaccine records can contact the Ottawa County Health Department directly. While records are maintained by the state and county, individuals may need to visit the office in person to verify their status or schedule a vaccination.
Q&A with Commissioner Jerry Bingham
Q: You’ve confirmed that Ottawa County has one confirmed case of measles. How did your department learn about it?
Jerry Bingham: We were notified through the proper procedure whenever there is a potential case. The health department gets notified [by the testing facility or state].
Q: Is this the first notification you’ve received in a while?
Bingham: As far as measles, this is the first and only case we’ve ever had—at least that I’m aware of in my time as Health Commissioner over the last five years.
Q: Are you surprised to see this happening here?
Bingham: I wouldn’t say surprised, because unfortunately, we’re seeing increases in measles cases throughout the country. It was just a matter of time before it hit anybody. We’re at a time where people are traveling for Spring Break and all this stuff. I’m informed there was even an outbreak up in Michigan. We do not have an outbreak—we just have one confirmed case—but if measles is out there in the community, it’s highly infectious.
Q: What is your advice to families in Ottawa County, or specifically Put-in-Bay families, who want to protect themselves right now?
Bingham: Contact the health department. If they need to know their vaccine status, they can come in and we keep record of that. If they aren’t protected, set up an appointment to get vaccinated.
Q: Should parents be taking extra precautions, like keeping their kids home?
Bingham: No. Just get vaccinated. There’s no other precaution unless somebody is sick. If you have your two doses of the MMR vaccine, it’s 97% effective. It’s extremely effective. Get vaccinated and go about life.
Q: When did you first learn of this case, and is there still a risk of contagion from this individual?
Bingham: We were informed of the positive case on Wednesday. But be aware that this case is no longer infectious. Nobody can catch it now from this person.
Q: Did your department conduct contact tracing for when that person was contagious?
Bingham: Absolutely, that’s what we do. We have an epidemiologist and we do all the contact tracing in a coordinated effort with the Ohio Department of Health. All the people that may have been in contact have been contacted. We’ve done some vaccination, and everyone is following protocol.
Q: Are there people currently being asked to quarantine?
Bingham: Through the proper protocol, there are some people quarantining, yes. We have two people under quarantine.
Q: Is there a point where you’ll be able to breathe a sigh of relief?
Bingham: As a Health Commissioner, I’m not sure I ever have a sigh of relief. But I feel like we’re in a good spot right now. I think we’ve done everything we can to contain it, but only time will tell. We believe the risk to the community is very low right now based on our actions.
RESOURCES
Ottawa County Health Department: 419-734-6800
Action: Call to verify vaccine records or schedule an MMR shot.
