The Nassau County Health Department announced Sunday that it is warning the public about potential measles exposure at Cohen Children's Medical Center on March 20 and March 21.
The health department says everyone who was in the waiting room and treatment area of the emergency department at Cohen Children's Medical Center, 269-01 76th Street on the Queens-Nassau border, was infected starting Wednesday, March 20, at 6:45 p.m. announced that it had been found out. , until 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, with possible exposure to measles.
“These times reflect the potential period of exposure when the infected person was in the identified area,” the Department of Health said in a news release.
State health officials announced Friday night that the Nassau resident is the county's first confirmed measles case since 2019 and the third in New York state this year. On Saturday, state and county officials announced that the patient was a child. Authorities said Sunday that the child was under the age of 5.
State officials also announced Saturday that an undisclosed Nassau-area child was hospitalized, but did not elaborate on the child's condition.
“Cohen Children's Medical Center … is working with state and local health officials after a patient presented to the emergency department was found to be infected with measles,” Jason Molinette, a spokesperson for the medical center, said in a statement. We are working closely together.”
“The patient was isolated and hospitalized on March 21st and is currently in a stable condition,” the statement said. “Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory disease in unvaccinated people.”
Molinet said medical center staff contacts patients who present to the emergency department at the time of possible infection, identifying patients who may be at high risk and in need of timely treatment. It is said that it has been specified.
Experts say measles is a highly contagious disease for people who have not had the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine or who do not have immunity. The vaccine is given in two doses, the first at 12 to 15 months of age and then at 4 to 6 years of age.
People who were born before 1957, have received two doses of the MMR vaccine, have had measles, or have undergone a laboratory test to confirm immunity are protected or immune to measles. It is considered.
According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles can be more serious in children under 5. Measles is spread by breathing contaminated air or touching infected surfaces. The virus can survive in the air for up to two hours after a person leaves the room.
The Nassau Health Department advises anyone who may have been exposed to measles and has symptoms to contact their health care provider, clinic, or emergency department before seeking treatment. According to the department, symptoms of measles include but are not limited to fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis, and runny nose.
The other two measles cases in the state were in New York City, health officials said.
with Lorena Mongelli
