Measles Case Confirmed On Long Island, The 1st In NY Outside NYC

NASSAU COUNTY, NY — A Nassau County resident has been confirmed to have measles amid a global and domestic increase in measles cases, the New York State Department of Health announced Friday.

It is the third case of measles in New York State and the first outside of New York City so far this year, according to officials.

The State Health Department and Nassau County health officials are monitoring the case and have alerted the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, officials said.

"The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to verify they've been properly immunized against measles and immediately get a shot if they are not," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said Friday.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air, according to officials.

You can catch the disease by breathing in the virus or by touching a contaminated surface and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth, officials said. It may take as many as 21 days after exposure to the virus for symptoms to appear.

Complications of the virus may include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization, and death.

Possible symptoms are as follows, according to the New York State Department of Health:

7-14 days, and up to 21 days after a measles infection:

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes

3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash occurs:

• The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
• Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
• The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
• When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.

A person with measles can pass it to others as soon as four days before a rash appears and as late as four days after the rash appears, according to officials. People who are exposed to the virus should quarantine 21 days after exposure and those who test positive should isolate until four days after the rash appears.

Individuals should receive two doses of Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine to be protected, officials said. Those who aren't sure about their immunization status should call their local health department or health care provider.