As measles continues to spread across the United States, professionals on the Hill have been monitoring health data and orchestrating measures to ensure student safety. Health Services notified Kenyon students of the first confirmed measles case in Knox County on March 27, before Knox County Hospital (KCH) announced two additional confirmed cases March 29. As of Wednesday, the total number of cases has risen to 14, according to Senior Director Of Wellness Alice Teall, officially qualifying the spread as an outbreak.

As Teall wrote in a March 17 email, measles is a highly contagious virus, with symptoms including fever, cough, watery eyes and a red rash that spreads across the body. The email — which noted that Kenyon requires the measles vaccine for all students — assured students that the chance of infection is very low once vaccinated. Students who have not provided the Cox Health and Counseling Center with proof of measles vaccination were individually contacted through their health portals regarding next steps. The Health Center has partnered with Knox Public Health (KPH) to provide measles vaccines for unvaccinated students. 

“We understand that news of confirmed measles cases in Knox County may be concerning for some students,” Teall wrote in an email to the Collegian. “However, local health officials have indicated that the confirmed cases are now considered contained, and the risk to our campus community remains low.” 

Teall verified that there are no confirmed measles cases in Gambier, while also celebrating the fact that 20 faculty and staff members recently received measles boosters at Kenyon’s most recent clinic. 

Measles, a disease virtually eradicated in the U.S. at the turn of the century, has made an alarming comeback. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. has seen a total of 607 cases of measles across 22 states as of April 3, compared to only 285 cases in all of 2024. Ashtabula County in northern Ohio is the only other Ohio county to confirm any measles cases, with 10 as of March 30. Cumulatively, the past few months have marked the most measles cases in Ohio in a calendar year since 2022.

The reason for measles’ return is a clear decrease in vaccination rates, despite the proven effectiveness of vaccines. “The best protection against measles is vaccination,” Teall stated. “Vaccination is critical in preventing the spread of measles and helps protect individuals who cannot be vaccinated.” According to The Columbus Dispatch, only 88.3% of Ohio kindergartners this school year received the measles vaccine. 

In a press release on the Ohio Department of Health’s website, Director Bruce Vanderhoff said, “This disease can be very serious, even deadly, but it is almost entirely avoidable by being properly vaccinated… It is a crucial layer of protection that can save lives.”

According to KCH, the three first measles cases originated from international travelers. Patients who checked into the hospital are currently quarantined while the hospital monitors their symptoms. The Dispatch stated that none of the three original patients who contracted measles in Knox County were vaccinated against the disease.

Kenyon Health Services urged students who experience potential symptoms to avoid contact with others and call the Health Center at 740-427-5525.