LUCAS COUNTY, Ohio — The Lucas County Health Department is investigating after a student in the Toledo area was taken to the emergency room for what appeared to be a possible case of measles.
The Health Department said a man claiming to be the stepfather of the child in question claimed the symptoms are from an allergic reaction to amoxicillin, but investigators are still waiting on test results.
According to the CDC, there have been 839 cases of measles this year, up from 372 in all of 2018. U.S. doctors blame the spread on misinformation about vaccines, and said measles are preventable.
One teen who took center stage in front of the county on vaccines in March is speaking out again, promoting vaccinations.
“To stop the spread of measles from continuing, and other diseases like it that we can prevent, the answer is vaccinations, and also through addressing the reasons people don’t vaccinate,” Ethan Lindenberger said.
While the teen is no expert on vaccinations, he gained popularity after a post on Reddit circulated, when he asked the online community where he could go to get vaccinated.
Lindenberger said the older he grew the more curious he became, questioning his mother’s choice to not have him and his siblings vaccinated.
“That’s what I’ve been pushing for—is just to teach people why vaccines are important and safe,” he said.
Those not in favor of vaccinations claim they cause more harm than good, leading to brain damage and autism. However, according to the CDC, there is no scientific evidence to back those claims.
