Health officials in New York State have confirmed a new case of measles in an unvaccinated child from Nassau County, under the age of 5. This marks the third case of measles in the state in 2024, with the other two cases identified in New York City.
The public may have been exposed to measles at the Cohen Children’s Medical Center Emergency Department in Queens near the Nassau border from March 20 to March 21. Measles is a highly contagious virus that can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis, especially for children under 5, adults over 20, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.
Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and rash. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and individuals can spread the virus even before showing symptoms.
While measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, cases can still be brought in by travelers from other parts of the world. As of March 21, a total of 64 measles cases have been reported in 2024 in 17 jurisdictions including New York City, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Health officials advise that people born before 1957 are likely immune to the virus, while those born between 1957 and 1971 should check if they were properly immunized. In Nassau County, 80.9% of children have received their first dose of the MMR vaccine by the age of 2, and in Suffolk County, that number is 82.1%.
It is important for individuals to ensure they are up to date on vaccinations to protect themselves and others from potentially serious illnesses like measles.
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