Measles Outbreak Hits Franklin County, Ohio

Six cases reported by Ohio Department of Health as officials investigate

Feb. 25, 2026 at 2:50am

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Franklin County public health officials are investigating a measles outbreak after six cases were recorded by the Ohio Department of Health. This comes a few months after two other measles outbreaks in the county in 2025.

Why it matters

Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, and outbreaks often occur when vaccination rates fall below the 95% herd immunity threshold. This outbreak highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining high vaccination coverage, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The details

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines a measles outbreak as three or more confirmed cases in a geographical area within a 21-day period. Officials from Franklin County Public Health and Columbus Public Health did not immediately provide additional details on the ages of those infected or how they became infected.

  • As of February 24, 2026, six measles cases have been recorded in Franklin County.
  • This is the third measles outbreak in Franklin County since 2025.

The players

Ohio Department of Health

The state health department that recorded the six measles cases in Franklin County.

Franklin County Public Health

The local public health agency investigating the measles outbreak.

Columbus Public Health

The local public health agency in Columbus, Ohio, which is also involved in the investigation.

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What’s next

Officials from Franklin County Public Health and Columbus Public Health are expected to provide more details on the outbreak in the coming days, including the ages of those infected and how the virus spread.

The takeaway

This measles outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent the spread of highly contagious diseases, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which saw a decline in routine childhood immunizations.