Measles cases rise to 15 in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS | Central Indiana has 15 confirmed cases of measles, state health officials said.

The most recently confirmed case does not pose a risk of spreading to others, because the person has been in self-isolation since being exposed. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus.

This is the second outbreak of measles in Indiana in less than a year. Measles is rare in the United States due to the widespread use of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

"In general, when we experience measles in the United States, it's a result of an unvaccinated U.S. resident traveling abroad or a foreign visitor from a part of the world where measles is endemic," said Dr. Gregory Larkin, a state health commissioner, in a news release. "Measles can and does happen in the U.S., but we can safely and easily protect ourselves by becoming vaccinated."

The State Department of Health has set up a hotline to help answer questions from the public at (877) 826-0011. Call between 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.