Deadly Measles Outbreak In New York State

Measles is spreading across the country at a rapid rate, but there have been several recent cases in New York.

Currently, there are no cases in our state outside of New York City, but there are neighboring states that have been affected by the measles outbreak, including Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

What Is Measles?

Measles is a viral infection that can be serious for small kids. It can be prevented with a vaccine, but it is highly contagious.

The disease spreads through the air in the form of respiratory droplets produced from coughing or sneezing. The tricky thing about measles is that symptoms usually don’t appear until 10 to 14 days after exposure.

READ MORE: Possible Measles Case at Williamsville South High School

What Are Symptoms To Look For?

Some identifiable symptoms for measles are:

A cough
Runny nose
Inflamed eyes
Watery eyes
Sore throat
Fever
Red, blotchy skin rash

The skin rash is typically full-body and the symptoms are very similar to the flu.

How New York State Is Responding To Measles Outbreak

According to the official New York State website and the Department of Health, they are monitoring the situation very carefully. Local health departments in each county are monitoring cases and taking proactive measures at this time to prevent the spread of measles around the state.

The New York State Department of Health is encouraging everyone to receive their MMR vaccine to prevent the disease.

Can Measles Cause Death?

According to the CDC, an estimated 136,000 people died of measles in 2022. Most of those deaths included children, as the group that is most at risk for severe complications from measles are children under the age of 5.

If you feel like you have been exposed to measles, take the proper precautions to eliminate the risk of spread.