First confirmed measles case in Nassau County since 2019 reported

Nassau County recorded the state’s first measles case outside of New York City on Friday and the third case statewide this year.

State health officials announced the case Friday night after the Nassau County resident's measles diagnosis was confirmed Friday by the state Health Department’s Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.

Information about the patient and where in Nassau the patient lived was not released. Nassau County health officials are monitoring the case with the state, which notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 “Nassau County Department of Health is closely investigating potential exposures and taking the necessary proactive steps to prevent the spread of measles,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Irina Gelman in a statement on Saturday morning. “We strongly encourage all residents to protect their health by ensuring they are up-to-date on important, lifesaving immunizations.” 

It is the third case this year in New York State after two people tested positive in New York City, according to the state. There have also been recent cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania as part of a global outbreak.

The last recorded cases of measles in Nassau County were reported in September 2019, when two cases were confirmed in the county. The county Health Department said at the time that one case involved a foreign resident who had recently arrived in the country and was staying in a private home. Officials said another patient with measles had ridden the Long Island Rail Road, which said that in response it was taking extra measures to clean parts of its system.

The most recent confirmed case of measles in Suffolk County was reported in April of the same year.

The disease is extremely contagious to anyone who has not received two doses of the MMR — measles, mumps, rubella vaccine — vaccine. Those who are vaccinated are generally protected for life, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control.

“Our epidemiologists and Department staff with the Divisions of Vaccine Excellence and Epidemiology are working hand in hand with our experts in the Wadsworth Laboratory as well as Nassau County health officials to monitor and investigate this case and any potential exposures,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a news release. “The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to verify they’ve been properly immunized against measles and immediately get a shot if they are not.”

Anyone unsure about their vaccination status should contact their doctor, officials said. Those born between 1957 and 1971 should check that their vaccines are reliable from that time period. Those born before 1957 probably had been previously exposed to the virus and are likely immune, health officials said.

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

Symptoms include a high fever, a cough and red eyes followed three to five days later with a rash of red, raised bumps on the skin. The rash may be coupled with a fever as high as 104 degrees.

The disease can be passed along four days before the rash appears

For the unimmunized, about nine out of 10 people exposed to the illness may be infected, according to the CDC. People can be required to quarantine up to 21 days, according to the state Health Department.

With Lorena Mongelli

By John Asbury

john.asbury@newsday.comJohnAsbury

John Asbury is a breaking news and general assignment reporter. He has been with Newsday since 2014 and previously worked at The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, California.