First Adult Case Of Measles Reported In Suffolk County: Officials

SUFFOLK COUNTY, NY — Suffolk County officials reported the first confirmed case of measles in an adult on Thursday.

The Suffolk County Department of Health Services said it had been notified of a laboratory confirmed case of measles in an adult who arrived recently from outside of the United States.

At the current time, the case does not appear to be related to any current measles cases in New York State, SCDHS said.

SCDHS, in collaboration with the New York State Department of Health, is investigating the case, and will take appropriate action based on the findings, health officials said.

Anyone who visited the BNB bank, located at 48 East Montauk Highway in Hampton Bays on Saturday, April 20, from 12:15 p.m. until the bank closed at 1 p.m. may have been exposed to measles, SCDHS said.

Anyone who was in the bank at that time is asked to contact the Suffolk County Department of Health Services’ public health staff at 631-854-0333 during business hours; or, after hours and on the weekend, by calling 631-852-4820.

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella, or MMR vaccine, have had measles disease, or have a lab test confirming immunity, the SCDHS said.

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 six days of exposure, the SCDHS said.

To prevent the spread of illness, the health department is 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 before going for care, to help prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness, health officials said.

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. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure but may appear as early as seven days and as late as 21 days after exposure, health officials said.

The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated; individuals should receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be fully protected, the SCDHS said.

If a person is unsure if they are immune they should contact their healthcare provider. Typically, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose should be given at four to six years of age, or 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, health officials said.

For families traveling overseas, a baby between the ages of 6 through 11 months old should receive one dose of MMR vaccine before leaving. If a child is 12 months of age or older, he or she will need two doses of MMR vaccine — separated by at least 28 days — before departure, the SCDHS said.

SCDHS told health providers that it is mandatory to report all cases or suspected cases of measles to the SCDHS Bureau of Communicable Disease Control at 631-854-0333.

For facts about measles, click here or here.