press release
WATERTOWN, NY — Jefferson County Public Health (JCPHS) has been notified by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Wadsworth Laboratory that an individual in Jefferson County has tested positive for measles. This individual was not vaccinated against measles. Close contacts of the positive case have been identified and informed of the exposure.
Vaccinated people in the general public remain at very low risk of infection. “It’s never too late to get vaccinated. You can protect your child’s health by making sure they are vaccinated against measles and its complications,” says Faith Lustik, director of the prevention department.
JCPHS also offers the MMR vaccine; including those without health insurance through the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) and Vaccines for Children (VFC) programs.
Please visit https://www.jeffersoncountyny.gov/ImmunizationServices or call 315-786-3700 for more information.
The best way to prevent measles is to get vaccinated. The two-dose measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is very effective in preventing the disease. Unvaccinated people, including infants too young to be vaccinated (younger than 12 months), and immunocompromised residents are at greatest risk of becoming infected with measles. However, an early dose of MMR vaccine is recommended for children aged 6 to 11 months who will travel abroad or in an epidemic setting.
Measles is caused by a virus that is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air. It can stay in the air for up to two hours, making it very contagious. More rarely, it can also be spread by touching a contaminated surface and then touching the eyes, nose or mouth. Symptoms usually appear 7 to 14 days after exposure (and up to 21 days). Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. 3 to 5 days after these symptoms begin, a rash appears. It usually begins on the face, at the hairline, then spreads to the neck, torso, limbs and feet. The rash is often accompanied by a fever of 104°F or higher. Complications of measles can include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage or premature birth, and immune amnesia.
If you or your child develop symptoms of measles, call your doctor. Do not seek medical attention without first calling and notifying the office/emergency department. Since measles is easily spread through the air, it is important to inform them so they can take appropriate steps to prevent measles from spreading.
View the number of measles cases by county on the NYSDOH Measles Dashboard. The dashboard is updated weekly on Tuesday with data from the previous Saturday.
Jefferson County Public Health
Gn Health
