New York City resident with measles dined at a Roslyn restaurant

A New York City resident infected with measles dined at a Roslyn Heights restaurant Sunday evening, potentially exposing patrons and staff to the highly contagious illness, the Nassau County Department of Health said Friday.

The agency said the individual with a lab-confirmed case of measles was at 388 Italian Restaurant, located at 388 Willis Ave., from 7:15 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The restaurant said it was cooperating with the Nassau Health Department and said no other measles cases have been linked to the establishment.

"We take the health and well-being of our guests and our team with the utmost seriousness, and we want to be fully transparent with our community," the restaurant said in an emailed statement to Newsday Friday evening. "Measles spreads through airborne respiratory droplets, not through food or dining, and public health authorities confirm that the measles virus is no longer viable in an indoor environment within two hours of exposure."

Local officials are working with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to investigate the exposures and are “taking the necessary proactive steps to prevent the spread of measles,” the county health department said in a news release.

This latest case is not related to that confirmed in a child under the age of 5 from Nassau County, announced earlier this week.

Nassau health officials said anyone who may have been exposed and has symptoms consistent with measles — such as a high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes or a rash — should contact their healthcare provider. People with symptoms should also contact any doctors' office or emergency department before they go there to minimize possible exposure to others.

Friday's announcement marked the sixth case of a New York City resident contracting measles following travel overseas, according to NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Alister Martin. An additional five measles cases have been confirmed throughout the rest of the state, according to the New York State Department of Health website.

"This case is unrelated to previous cases and there have been no reports of local transmission," Martin said in a statement emailed to Newsday via a spokesperson. "The risk to the general public is low due to high vaccination coverage among New Yorkers and there have been no reports of transmission. ... Vaccination is the best protection against measles."

Another recent infection in New York City involved an unvaccinated adult who visited the Metropolitan Opera and two city restaurants, including Norma, an Italian eatery in Hell's Kitchen.

The Metropolitan Opera attendee visited the venue, as well as Norma, on April 25, a New York City health department spokesperson confirmed to Newsday. The person visited a second restaurant city health officials have not yet identified.

City health officials have been working with the Lincoln Center opera house and Norma to reach those who may have been infected. 

On its Facebook page, Norma said that the infected person visited the restaurant between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. on April 25. None of the restaurant's employees had been infected, the post continued, “because they are all vaccinated.”

The opera house did not immediately return Newsday’s request for comment.

The city health agency advises that children receive their first dose of the MMR vaccine at 12 months and their second dose between ages 4 and 6. It also recommends parents immunize infants between 6 and 11 months with an extra dose of the MMR vaccine if they plan to bring them overseas.