Measles Confirmed In Nassau County As Department Of Health Investigates Positive Test, DOH Says

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — The Nassau County Department of Health is investigating the presence of measles in the county after an unvaccinated five-year-old tested positive for the disease, the DOH said Monday night.

The confirmed positive case is the county's first since 2024, the DOH said. The county agency didn't say where in the county the child who tested positive resides, nor did it report on the child's condition. The county did say it would be investigating the case and "taking necessary proactive steps to prevent further spread of the illness."

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“The Nassau County Department of Health is closely investigating the case, including any potential exposures, and taking the necessary steps to prevent the spread of measles,” County Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman said. “Measles can cause serious illness, with complications that may include pneumonia, encephalitis, and often results in hospitalization and sometimes death. We strongly encourage residents to protect themselves and their families by making sure they are up to date on important, lifesaving immunizations.”

State Department of Health data shows 82.3 percent of Nassau County has received the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine.

Symptoms most often appear within 10 to 12 days after exposure but can pop up as early as seven days later and as late as 21 days post-exposure, the County DOH said.

As for what those symptoms might be, the county said residents ought to watch out for fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a rash. Individuals with measles can spread the virus from four days prior to the rash appearing to four days after, the county said.

Regardless of the symptoms, county health officials said the best way to prevent the spread of measles is vaccination.

"The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Individuals should receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be protected," the county said. "Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own. The MMR vaccine is very safe."