COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The measles outbreak in Ohio has reached 339 cases in nine counties.
State health officials report eight hospitalizations from the cases that are part of the largest national
outbreak of the illness since 1996.
Health officials say the Ohio outbreak started among Knox County Amish who had traveled to the
Philippines, which has had a measles epidemic. Other affected counties include Crawford, Ashland,
Coshocton, Highland, Holmes, Richland, Stark and Wayne.
Measles is caused by a virus. Symptoms include fevers, coughs, rashes and pink eye.
Ohio health officials also are grappling with a rare outbreak of mumps, which this week reached 427 cases
across three central Ohio counties.