3 new measles cases in Orange County

Three children from three different families in Orange County were confirmed by county health department officials to have measles. They’re the latest cases to hit upstate New York. Orange County Department of Health Deputy Commissioner Lisa Lahiff says that none of the families knew each other but they all had previously traveled to Belgium, where an outbreak happened last month. 

“These are not cases where one particular child has measles who gave it to other children in Orange County,” she said. 

Lahiff says all the children impacted are under a year old and therefore not old enough to receive the first dose of the vaccine. But they are currently recovering well.

Some surrounding counties are beginning preparations to make sure they’re ready if these cases spread.  

“[We’re] in constant communication with those health care providers,” said Sullivan County Public Health Director Jessie Moore. “We are awaiting a order from the state [for] measles testing kits that we’re going to be able to provide to the local health care providers.” 

Dr. Moore says people should know the symptoms — high fever, coughing, runny nose and watery eyes. After three to five days, a rash will appear as flat red spots, which start on the face at the hairline and spread down toward the rest of the body. 

Sullivan County recently required all campers to be vaccinated against measles and other diseases. It should protect against a widespread measles outbreak, as the county’s population more than triples in the coming months, when many in the orthodox Jewish community spend their summers there. 

“So the county does go around to all of the different camps and we do perform audits to make sure that all of the campers that are in attendance have their medical records are current, they are on the premises, and that they are following those standards,” Dr. Moore said.  

Children are usually vaccinated once around 12 months old, and again at five or six. For most people, those antibodies will be enough to protect them against measles for the rest of their life. But a booster shot can be necessary if a blood test determines a person no longer has protection after childhood inoculation. 

Lahiff says parents with children under 12 months should be cautious for now, especially when it comes to traveling. 

“You have to go to a family funeral, you have to go to a wedding and you have to take that 4-month-old,” she said. “You want to be extremely careful about who that 4-month-old is exposed to while you’re gone or maybe consider not going.”

Dr. Moore recommends that if you have to travel with a child between 6 and 11 months, to talk to your doctor about getting an early dose of the vaccine. It can protect them from measles in the short term before their first full dose at 12 months.