Amid Measles Uptick, County Officials Offer Tips To Stay Healthy

NEW CITY, NY — With measles cases rising in the United States and around the world, the Rockland County Department of Health this week urged area residents to make sure they are protected.

As of Feb. 20, there had been 93 measles cases in the U.S., according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

These include cases in New York City, Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Texas.

As of Feb. 26, there have been no reported cases this year in Rockland County.

“As the disease spreads in the U.S. and abroad, residents should take proactive measures and check with their health care provider to ensure they are protected and prevent another measles outbreak in Rockland,” said County Executive Ed Day.

Dr. Chitra Punjabi, director of TB and Communicable Disease Control for the health department, said springtime can increase the likelihood of exposure and outbreaks, due to increased travel.

Punjabi urged residents to talk to their healthcare providers about their measles vaccination status, particularly if they will be traveling. Make sure your children’s vaccinations are up to date also, Punjabi said.

Most cases are in people who aren’t vaccinated or fully-vaccinated, according to the health department.

Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. Symptoms range from fever to rash to a runny nose. While the disease can be severe for people of all ages, young children, pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems are at particular risk, officials said. Pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization, and even death can occur in severe cases.

For more information, visit the measles webpages of the Rockland County Department of Health and the New York State Department of Health. To get information on vaccines, visit www.vaccines.gov.