New measles exposures in Palisades mall, Spring Valley as outbreak spreads

Two places in Spring Valley and a store at the Palisades Center are the latest locations health officials said may have been exposed to measles over Thanksgiving weekend.

With 83 measles cases in Rockland and eight more under investigation, health officials are cautioning that anyone in the county could be affected and everybody should check their immunization status.

Officials said the latest exposures happened at Compare Supermarket in Spring Valley between 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 22, Jalapa Express in Spring Valley between 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. on Nov. 24 and Best Buy at the Palisades Center between 7 and 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 24.

These times reflect when the infected person was in these locations and the two-hour period after they left, officials said. The Palisades Center exposure was only in Best Buy and not the rest of the mall.

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Measles is highly contagious and can stay in the air up to two hours after the infected person has left the room. A dangerous virus that is spread by nose or throat secretions, measles can cause pneumonia, brain damage, deafness or death. About one in four people who get measles will be hospitalized.

Officials said the measles outbreak is not limited to one community, although patients are primarily in Spring Valley, New Square and Monsey.

The county's small geographic size means exposures can happen anywhere in Rockland, as people may shop, dine and run errands before they realize they are sick but after they are contagious.

People are considered contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears. Symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure, but may appear as early as seven days and as late as 21 days after exposure.

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Who's most at risk?

Anyone who was at these locations at those times and are in a high-risk group are advised to call their health care provider as soon as possible.

High-risk groups include:

• Pregnant women
• Children under 6 months of age
• immunocompromised or immunosuppressed individuals
• People who have not been vaccinated against measles
• Those born before 1957 who are immunosuppressed

Health officials are asking anyone who has measles symptoms — fever, rash or red, watery eyes — should stay home, avoid visitors and not go out in public in order to prevent the further spread of the disease.

If you suspect you have measles, call your health care provider, health clinic or local emergency room instead of going in person.

"Measles is highly contagious, so ANYONE who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions," Rockland County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said in a released statement Wednesday evening. "We continue to encourage everyone to be up-to-date with the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine to help protect them in case of any future exposure to measles in Rockland."

You are considered protected or immune if:

• You had a physician or provider confirm measles or a lab test confirming immunity.
• You were born before 1957.
• You had two doses of the MMR vaccine.

Health officials warn that due to the outbreak, some people who are vaccinated may still get measles, but a less severe case and less contagious. The vaccine is 97 percent effective after two doses. The first dose is usually given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second at 4 to 6 years of age or before starting school.

Because of the outbreak, health officials are recommending that children as young as 6 months old get the MMR vaccine to give them some protection against measles, and then get the typical two doses at the usual times.

Children 1 to 3 years old who have already had their first MMR shot should get their second as long as 28 days have passed since they received the first dose. In New York, measles immunization is required of children enrolled in schools, day care and pre-kindergarten. Since 1990, college students have also had to show immunity against measles.

Health officials ask that all health care providers immediately report all suspected measles cases to the Rockland County Department of Health Communicable Disease Program at 845-364-2997 during normal business hours, or 845-364-8600 after hours and on weekends. Health Care Providers can call this number for additional information.

Residents can get more information at www.health.ny.gov or by calling the New York State Department of Health toll free Measles Information Line at 888-364-4837.

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