STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York’s top elected official is urging residents to make sure they’re immunized against measles following several reported cases within the state in recent months.
On Wednesday, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the launch of a new state web portal dedicated to supporting vaccinations and educating the public on the dangers of measles, with four cases, including three in New York City, reported so far this year.
“Measles doesn’t belong in the 21st century, and it certainly doesn’t belong in the state of New York,” Hochul said. “As measles outbreaks occur at home and around the globe, it’s critical that New Yorkers take the necessary steps to get vaccinated, get educated and stave off the spread of this preventable disease — the safety of our communities depends on it.”
Officials noted that none of the four cases reported so far are related to each other or other measles outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico, emphasizing the risk to New Yorkers remains low at this time.
The state’s leading health official has strongly encouraged all residents to ensure they’re up to date on their vaccines, with immunization data showing the current statewide vaccination rate for babies up to two years old, excluding New York City, is 81.4%.
The governor’s office noted that actual vaccination coverage among school-age children is higher, typically around 90%, though the source of that data was not provided.
“The single way to prevent measles is to be immunized, and this is an irrefutable fact. Measles is much more than just a rash. In the current outbreak in the United States, one in five people are being admitted to a hospital,” said New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald.
“I urge all New Yorkers to ensure they are current on their measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunizations and immediately get vaccinated if they are not,” he continued.
Symptoms of measles
Measles is an acute viral respiratory illness, characterized by high fever, malaise, cough and stuffy nose, along with conjunctivitis (pink eye), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Spots, known as a pathognomonic enanthema, are also present, followed by a rash, the CDC reported. The rash usually appears about two weeks after a person is exposed and spreads from the head down.
Patients are considered to be contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears. Sometimes immunocompromised patients do not develop the rash.
Measles is one of the most contagious of all infectious diseases, the CDC reported, and nine out of 10 susceptible people with close contact to a measles patient will develop the illness.
The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets and airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to the CDC.
The measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.