The Allen County Department of Health confirms two additional local cases of measles, bringing the total number of cases in Allen County to eight.
Health officials confirm two additional measles cases
Risk to community remains low.Fort Wayne, Indiana (April 21, 2025) – The Allen County Department of Health confirms two additional local cases of measles, bringing the total number of cases in Allen County to eight.
The additional patients are one unvaccinated minor and one adult with unknown vaccination status. All are recovering and related to the previously identified outbreak. No other identifying information about the patients will be released due to state and federal privacy concerns.
These confirmations – as with the previous six cases of measles in Allen County this year – come as part of an ongoing investigation being conducted with the Indiana Department of Health.
“All eight cases are connected to each other, and because of that the risk to the community is low,” said Department Administrator Mindy Waldron. “Additional cases were not unexpected, due to this exposure. At this time, there are also no known links to outbreaks in other states.”
Immunization remains the best defense against measles, which is highly contagious and can lead to severe health problems. Vaccinations are widely available from most primary health care providers and Super Shot. The Allen County Department of Health also offers vaccines for measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases at its Medical Annex, 4813 New Haven Ave. Appointments can be made at (260) 449-7504.
Measles symptoms often appear 7 to 14 days after exposure to the virus, though some might appear sooner. A red, blotchy rash is typically the most visible symptom, and that appears three to five days after exposure.
Symptoms include:
- Rash
- High fever
- Sore throat
- Small white spots inside cheeks
- Red, watery eyes
- Cough
- Runny nose
Anyone experiencing symptoms should stay home and contact their health care provider immediately. Those with concerns about possible exposure can contact the Allen County Department of Health at (260) 449-7556.
Measles is spread when someone who is infected sneezes or coughs, sending droplets into the air. It can lead to serious health problems, particularly in children younger than 5. Effects of measles include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, encephalitis (brain inflammation), severe hearing loss and even death.
Information about measles is available on the Indiana Department of Health website, as well as from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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