Rockland, Westchester Exposed To Measles By Another Visitor

NEW CITY, NY — Another international traveler who has been confirmed to have measles visited many locations in Rockland County, Westchester County, and Bergen County in New Jersey including a box store, a gym, synagogues and two health care facilities. Many people were therefore potentially exposed to measles between Oct. 4 - 11.

It is the second time in a month that a visitor to Rockland has exposed others to the measles. An international traveler went to New Square from Newark International Airport and spent several days before symptoms appeared; local people were exposed to the measles from Sept. 28 to Oct. 1.

Anyone who visited the following locations in Rockland, Westchester or Bergen may have been exposed to measles:

Congregation Bais Elazer, 26 Voyager Court, Monsey, NY

• 10/4/2018 between 8:00 am and 11:00 am

Mia's Reflexology, 191 South Main Street, New City, NY

• 10/4/2018 between 7:00 pm and 9:00 pm

Lifetime Gym, 10 Van Riper Road, Montvale, New Jersey

• 10/5/2018 between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm

Wesley Kosher, 455 Route 306, Monsey, NY

• 10/5/2018 between 10:00 am and 1:00 pm

Congregation Borov, 2 Parker Road, Monsey, NY

• 10/5/2018 between 6:45 pm and 9:45 pm

• 10/6/2018 between 9:00 am and 1:45 pm

Costco, 50 Overlook Blvd., Nanuet, NY

• 10/7/2018 between 1:30 pm and 5:00 pm

Care 365, 1 Main Street, Monsey, NY

• 10/8/2018 between 10:00 pm and 12:00 am

Westchester Medical Center Emergency Room, 100 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY

• 10/11/2018 between 3:45 am and 4:15 pm

These times reflect the period that the infected person was in these areas plus a two-hour period after the individual left the area, as the virus remains alive in air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had physician or provider-confirmed measles, or have a lab test confirming immunity. Individuals who are not immune to measles and were exposed are at risk for developing measles. Preventive treatment for measles is recommended for those without evidence of immunity as follows: MMR vaccine can be given to eligible exposed individuals within 72 hours of exposure OR immune globulin can be administered within 6 days of exposure.

If you were present at these locations during these times, and are in any of the following high-risk groups, contact your health care provider by phone right away:

• Pregnant
• A child under 6 months of age
• Immunocompromised or immunosuppressed (when your body can’t fight disease)
• Have not been vaccinated against the measles
• Were born before 1957 and are immunosuppressed

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure.

To prevent the spread of illness, health officials are advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department.

Do that before going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by appearance of a rash. People are considered infectious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash.

The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated.

If you are unsure if you are immune, contact your healthcare provider. Individuals should receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be fully protected. Typically, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given at 12-15 months of age and the second dose should be given at four to six years of age (age of school entry), although individuals may also be vaccinated later in life. In New York State, measles immunization is required of children enrolled in schools, daycare, and pre-kindergarten. Since August 1990, college students have also been required to demonstrate immunity against measles.

“We are working diligently to monitor the situation and protect the community from measles. We will keep residents informed of any updates,” said Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.

More information about measles can be found at https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/2170.pdf.

SEE:

Measles Exposure In Rockland County, Newark Airport