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The number of measles cases is increasing rapidly in Rockland County, with the number of cases going from 15 confirmed cases a week ago to 25 Friday and Sunday, county officials said that there were 33 confirmed cases of measles in the county and five more cases are under investigation.
More than 2,000 people or more have been vaccinated with measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine since the beginning of the epidemic at the end of September. This disease originated from travelers from Israel middle of a large measles epidemic.
How is measles contagious? Answer: very
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is transmitted through direct contact with the nasal or throat secretions of infected people. Measles can be dangerous, especially for infants and young children, as it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, deafness and death. Pregnant women who are not immunized, as well as immunocompromised or immunosuppressed people (when your body can not fight the disease) are women at high risk of complications if they catch measles. About one in four people who contract measles will be hospitalized.
Symptoms include fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis (watery eyes) or runny nose. People are considered infectious four to four days after the onset of the rash. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure, but can appear as early as 7 days and up to 21 days after exposure.
Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if:
• they were born before 1957
• you received two doses of measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine
• did you have measles confirmed by a health care provider
• or have a laboratory test confirming immunity
If you are not sure of being immunized against measles, contact your health care provider. People must receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be fully protected. As a general rule, the first dose of MMR vaccine should be given between 12 and 15 months and the second dose between four and six years (age of school entry), although individuals can also be vaccinated later in life. In the state of New York, measles immunization is mandatory for children enrolled in schools, daycares and kindergartens. Since August 1990, students are also required to demonstrate immunity against measles.
Individuals who are not at the shelter to measles are at risk of developing measles if exposed to it. The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. If you are not immune to measles, the MMR vaccine or a medicine called immunoglobulin may help reduce your risk of getting measles. Check with your health care provider to find out if your measles immunization is up to date, or make an appointment to get vaccinated.
According to the CDC, as of October 6, 142 individual cases of measles had been confirmed in 25 states and in the District of Columbia in 2018.
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