Back to School Vaccines & Cyclospora Outbreak: What Ohio parents need to know

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CINCINNATI (WXIX) - As students head back to school, health professionals are urging Ohio parents to make sure their children are up to date on immunizations and warning of a growing Cyclospora outbreak across the state.

The Ohio Department of Health held a press conference Tuesday addressing both concerns.

Vaccines Required for School in Ohio

Ohio law requires students to be vaccinated against several diseases before attending school, with some exceptions allowed.

Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff urged parents to vaccinate their children against a number of diseases, including Hepatitis B and Measles, also known as MMR. A full list of required vaccines is available on the Ohio Department of Health’s website.

Ohio reported 45 measles cases in 2025. So far this year, the state has reported 15 cases, with a current outbreak in northeast Ohio.

“All of these cases involve those who were unvaccinated or under-vaccinated. Given the exposure of large community events, we unfortunately expect this case count to grow. Public health officials continue working with the communities involved and are offering opportunities for vaccinations. Declining vaccination rates threaten to put cracks in the armor that vaccines have given us against deadly diseases,” said Vanderhoff.

Cyclospora Cases Rising in Ohio

Doctors also addressed a growing Cyclospora outbreak, reporting a steady increase in cases statewide.

As FOX 19 Now has reported, two people in Michigan have died linked to the parasite. The state’s infectious disease dashboard shows 4,013 cases in Ohio and no deaths here.

Dr. Robert Frenck with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital says that while the outbreak is drawing headlines, Cyclospora remains a relatively uncommon infection compared to illnesses like norovirus.

“The hallmark of the Cyclospora is it is lasting weeks, sometimes months. My advice would be, if someone is calling me and saying when would I test for Cyclospora, unless I specifically know a person has been exposed to Cyclospora and they have symptoms, I would wait until they have had diarrhea for at least a week before I’d be testing them,” said Frenck.

What You Should Do

• Practice good hygiene: Doctors urge everyone to practice good food preparation and hygiene to reduce the risk of Cyclospora.
• Protect your health: Doctors say wash all fruits and vegetables under running water, scrub firm items like melons with a vegetable brush, and refrigerate those items promptly.
• When choosing lettuce: Purchase whole heads, discard the outer leaves, and thoroughly wash the inner leaves before eating.
• Check your child’s vaccine records: Parents should contact their physicians to make sure children are current on all vaccines, which can prevent many serious illnesses.

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