Indiana sees first measles case in five years

A case of measles in northern Indiana is the first in the state in five years.

According to the Indiana Department of Health, the case was confirmed in a resident of Lake County. State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver says that about 90 percent of unvaccinated people who are exposed to the disease catch it, and about a fifth of those who do catch it have to be hospitalized. The agency says the disease is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. It is rare in the United States due to the widespread availability of the measles, mumps and rubella or MMR vaccine, The CDC says there have been 20 confirmed cases nationwide this year.

Children are routinely vaccinated for measles at 12-15 months, and again at 4-6 years of age before going to kindergarten. If you were born before 1957, you are considered immune to the disease.

This is the first Indiana case since 2019.