Health departments in Holmes and Knox counties are preparing to vaccinate as many people as possible against measles today in an effort to control an outbreak that has grown to at least 16. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed what health officials already suspected - that the virus moving through the Amish community is measles, the Ohio Department of Health said this morning in a release.

Health departments in Holmes and Knox counties are preparing to vaccinate as many people as possible against measles today in an effort to control an outbreak that has grown to at least 16.



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed what health officials already suspected � that the virus moving through the Amish community is measles, the Ohio Department of Health said this morning in a release.



The Knox County Health Department vaccinated 136 people in the community yesterday and is prepared to vaccinate hundreds more today, said spokeswoman Pam Palm.



Of the 16 people sickened so far, four traveled to the Philippines to rebuild houses destroyed in a typhoon there. The country is experiencing a large and deadly measles outbreak.



The Christian missionary group that organized that trip and three others does not require the measles-mumps-rubella, or MMR, vaccine for travel, nor does the U.S. or state government.



Measles is highly contagious. Almost every unvaccinated person who comes in contact with the respiratory illness will be infected. It also can be deadly, particularly in young children and babies. Pregnant women are at high risk because measles can cause miscarriage and premature delivery.



Symptoms usually show up a week to three weeks after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose, pink eyes and a rash. Those who are infected transmit the disease four days before they start to feel sick and four days after onset.



Knox County is offering free vaccine until 2 p.m. at St. Luke�s Community Center, 7 W. Rambo St. in Danville. Holmes County is offering free vaccines until noon at the Holmesville Church of Christ, 204 W. Main St. in Holmesville.



@MistiCrane