NY Measles Cases Lead To New Web Portal To Provide Vaccine Access

LONG ISLAND, NY — With cases of measles being reported across New York State, Gov. Kathy Hochul launched a new web portal Wednesday to support access to vaccines and public health information.

Hochul joined New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald to update New Yorkers on the cases and encouraged everyone to ensure they are current on all recommended immunizations. There have been four total cases of measles in New York State so far this year, three in New York City and one in Suffolk County.

None of the cases this year are related to each other or connected to the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. The risk of measles to New Yorkers from these outbreaks is low, Hochul said.

“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.”

The New York State Department of Health and local health departments work together to monitor cases and alert the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, she said. All New Yorkers are urged to protect themselves by making sure they’re up-to-date on important, lifesaving immunization, Hochul said.

“The single way to prevent measles is to be immunized, and this is an irrefutable fact,” McDonald said. “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. 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.”

Based on immunization registry data, the current statewide vaccination rate for babies up to two years old, excluding New York City, is 81.4 percent. This is the percent of children who have received at least one dose of the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccines. However, actual vaccination coverage among school-age children is higher, typically around 90 percent, officials said.

Individuals should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine to be protected. Those who aren’t sure about their immunization status should call their local health department or health care provider. Those who were born before 1957 have likely already been exposed to the virus and are immune. Those born between 1957 and 1971 should check with a doctor to ensure they’ve been properly immunized, as vaccines administered during that time may not have been reliable, officials said.

Those who travel abroad should make sure they are vaccinated for measles. Babies as young as 6 months can get an MMR if they are traveling abroad. The babies should get their MMRs on schedule and need a total of three MMRs.

The State Health Department is monitoring the situation very carefully, along with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Hochul said. Local health departments in each county are prepared to investigate cases and distribute vaccines or other protective measures as needed.

New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera weighed in: “The four reported cases of measles in New York State this year are not only concerning but also, a stern reminder that we must keep our recommended immunizations up to date. Measles could pose serious health risks for those who contract it and are not protected, so it is critical that we follow the science and don’t fall behind on immunizations.”

Assemblymember Amy Paulin added: “The science is clear – the measles vaccine works.”

Misinformation around vaccines has in recent years contributed to a rise in vaccine hesitancy, declining vaccination rates and a black market for fraudulent vaccination records, the governor said.

The Department takes an active role in combating vaccination fraud, including work by the Department’s Bureau of Investigations identifying, investigating, and seeking impactful enforcement actions against those who falsify vaccine records, as evidenced by several recent cases.

Combating vaccine fraud is a collective effort that includes various stakeholders responsible for community health and safety, Hochul said. The Department works with schools to help them fulfill their responsibility of reviewing vaccination records for fraud. Additionally, the Department partners with the New York State Education Department, local health departments and school-nurse professional organizations around this critical effort. Moreover, the Department’s Bureau of Investigations, in particular, works to educate, engage and support police and prosecutors statewide regarding vaccination fraud, which under New York law is a felony-level criminal offense, officials said.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. In some cases, measles can reduce the immune system’s ability to fight other infections like pneumonia, health officials said.

Serious complications of measles include hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling and death. Long-term serious complications can also include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a brain disease resulting from an earlier measles infection that can lead to permanent brain damage, officials said.

People who are infected with measles often get “measles immune amnesia,” which causes their immune system to lose memory to fight other infections like pneumonia. In places like Africa, where measles is more common, this is the largest driver of mortality, officials said.

Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage and low birth weight infants, Hochul said.

Measles is caused by a virus that is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air, health officials said.Individuals can catch the disease by breathing in the virus or by touching a contaminated surface, then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth, officials added. Complications may include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth, hospitalization and death.

The incubation period for measles is up to 21 days. People who are exposed to measles should quarantine 21 days after exposure and those who test positive should isolate until four days after the rash appears, health officials said.

According to health officials, symptoms for measles can include the following:

7 to 14 days, and up to 21 days after a measles infection

• High fever
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes

3 to 5 days after symptoms begin, a rash occurs

• The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
• Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
• The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
• When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.

A person with measles can pass it to others as soon as four days before a rash appears and as late as four days after the rash appears, officials said.

Health care providers should report suspected measles cases to their local health department.

Visit the State Health Department’s dedicated measles website here for information about the measles, immunization data and information for providers.

The State Health Department has also launched a new Global Health Update Report webpage to keep New Yorkers informed of ongoing and emerging infectious disease outbreaks. The report is updated every Friday. Additional information about the measles vaccine can be found here.

Last week, it was revealed that 12 Suffolk County residents may have been exposed to measles after a child tested positive for measles at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens last week, according to the Suffolk County Department of Health Services.

“Cohen Children’s Medical Center identified 12 potential exposures of Suffolk County residents who were at Cohen during the hours of potential exposure,” SCDH said in a statement. “We followed up with those 12. Of them, 11 were vaccinated. One was too young to be vaccinated. That child received prophylaxis and was quarantined.”

Also last week, Patch reported that there was potential exposure to measles for people who visited the pediatric emergency department at Cohen on March 3 and 4, or visited an inpatient child on the Medicine 3 unit from March 3 to March 6, according to an SCDH press release.

The medical center was contacting patients who visited the emergency department and the pediatric floor at the time of the potential exposure, SCDH said.

Anyone who feels they may have been exposed should consult with their doctor or pediatrician or contact their local health department, SCPH said.

SCPD said the investigation is ongoing and potential other exposures are also being assessed. The SCDH has confirmed, however, that the child with measles did not attend daycare or school while infectious.