Measles Exposure At Woodbury Common: Health Officials

GOSHEN, NY — The Orange County Department of Health said a person who was confirmed to have measles visited Woodbury Common Premium Outlets in Central Valley recently. The visit occurred Sunday, March 31, a spokesman for the county said.

Health officials said potential exposure to measles may have happened to people who were in the Nike Factory or Sayki Men's Fashion stores between the hours of 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

Anyone who visited the property outside of this timeframe is not at risk from this particular exposure, health officials said.

The person with measles was from New York City, but a county spokesman said the health department didn't have information as to which borough was the place of residence.

There have been 17 measles cases in Orange County, including seven from last fall and 10 so far this year, a county spokesman said.

The disclosure of the latest exposure came on the same day that Westchester County announced it confirmed that eight children, six of whom are siblings, in the Bedford-Mount Kisco area had the measles. Two of the children had to be hospitalized, but have since been released.

Rockland County declared a state of emergency in March, banning anyone under the age of 18 from public spaces. However, a judge issued a temporary restraining order Friday that effectively ended the emergency. The county was issuing new orders that would require any person exposed to measles to stay home or face a significant fine. Rockland has more than 170 reported cases of measles.

New York City declared an emergency Tuesday, ordering mandatory vaccinations in its neighborhoods affected by the outbreak.

The Orange County Health Department recommends the following:

• All patrons of these stores should monitor for signs and symptoms of measles through April 21.
• If you do become ill, you should seek appropriate medical care immediately:

— Contact your health care provider or emergency department before seeking care to avoid exposing others to illness;

— Do not go to work, school or other public places, and

— Notify the local health department where you live about your possible exposure to measles.

• Individuals who are not certain if they are immune to measles, or unsure of their MMR vaccination status, should receive an MMR vaccine as soon as possible. You should contact your health care provider or the Orange County Health Department or further guidance.

If a person is immune to measles, it is unlikely that he or she would become ill if exposed. A person is considered immune if he or she was born before Jan. 1, 1957, has received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine or has a lab test confirming immunity, health officials said.

Those individuals who are not immune or not sure if they have been vaccinated are at risk of developing measles.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis (reddened eyes) and/or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear in 10 to 12 days after exposure but may begin as early as seven days or take as long as 21 days.

The highly contagious respiratory disease is caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Symptoms generally appear in two stages.

In the first stage, which lasts two to four days, the individual may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light while the fever gradually rises each day, often peaking as high as 103 degrees to 105 degrees F. Small bluish white spots surrounded by a reddish area may also appear on the inside of the mouth, health officials said.

The second stage begins on the third to seventh day and consists of a red blotchy rash lasting five to six days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads downward and outward, reaching the hands and feet. The rash fades in the same order that it appeared, from head to lower extremities. A person can spread measles from four days before the onset of rash through four days after the rash begins. Although measles is usually considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age.

Common complications from measles include diarrhea, ear infections and pneumonia. Measles can cause serious illness requiring hospitalization. Some people will die from complications, medical experts said. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants. Measles can be more severe in people with weak immune systems.

Health officials stressed that the single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Children 12 months of age and older and adults are recommended to receive two doses of MMR vaccine, given at least 28 days apart, to be optimally protected.

For more information about measles, please visit the state Health Department and the Centers for Disease Control. Orange County providers or community members can get more information about measles by calling the New York State Department of Health toll free Measles Information Line at 888-364-4837.

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