Public Health Reports New Measles Cases

LOWVILLE, NY– Lewis County Public Health has received report of 10 additional cases of measles. All cases have been in unvaccinated individuals. The residents that are in their infectious period are currently isolated until they are no longer contagious.  To protect resident privacy, no additional details will be released.  The overall risk to the public remains low, particularly in those that are fully vaccinated or who were born before 1957 (and presumed to have natural immunity.)

Potential Exposures & Contact Tracing

Because measles is a highly contagious airborne virus, public health officials conduct thorough contact tracing of the confirmed case. Lewis County Public Health has successfully identified and directly contacted all individuals known to have been exposed.

What Exposed Individuals Should Do

• Check Your Immunity/Vaccination Status

You are generally considered immune to measles if you meet one of the following criteria:

• You have documented records of receiving two doses of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
• You were born before 1957.
• A healthcare provider has previously confirmed through a blood test that you are immune.

If you are fully vaccinated, your risk of contracting measles is very low. Unvaccinated individuals, young infants, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals are at the highest risk for severe complications. If you have symptoms or someone has notified you of an exposure, stay home.

• Monitor for Symptoms for 21 Days

Early symptoms typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and include:

• High fever (often rising above 101 degrees F)
• Cough
• Runny nose (coryza)
• Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis)

Subsequent symptoms:

• A red, blotchy rash typically appears 3 to 5 days after initial symptoms begin, usually starting on the face along the hairline and spreading downward to the rest of the body.
• Post-Exposure Options (Act Quickly)

If you are unvaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised AND were exposed, contact your health care provider or Lewis County Public Health right away.

• The MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure, or immune globulin (IG) given within 6 days, can prevent or reduce the severity of measles illness.
• Call Ahead Before Seeking Medical Care

DO NOT walk into a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room without calling first. If you develop symptoms or suspect you were exposed, call your primary care provider or the Emergency Room before arriving. Inform them that you may have been exposed to measles. This allows healthcare facilities to take precautions—such as placing you in an isolated room immediately—to prevent spreading the virus to other vulnerable patients in the waiting room or other areas.

About Measles

Measles is a viral illness spread through coughing and sneezing. The virus can remain alive and infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room. An individual who has measles is contagious 4-days prior to a rash beginning and 4-days after the rash appears. Symptoms of measles typically begin between 7 and 14 days after exposure to the virus. Approximately 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus will contract it.

Risk to the Public

The overall risk of measles to the general public remains low, particularly for individuals who are fully vaccinated against the disease or born before 1957. However, measles is extremely contagious, and anyone unvaccinated, pregnant, under 12 months of age, or immunocompromised is at a higher risk and should talk with their health care provider.

For questions regarding this public notice or measles vaccination, contact Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453 or visit www.lewiscountypublichealth.com.