Two people who traveled through Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport earlier this month have tested positive for measles, according to the Monroe County Department of Public Health.
County health officials are working with the confirmed cases, their contacts, the New York State Department of Health and local health care providers.
When were the 2 people with measles at the airport?
The two people with confirmed cases were at the airport during the following times:
- Tuesday, Sept. 8, between 3:20 and 6 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 13, between 11:20 p.m. and 2 a.m. Monday, Sept. 14
The individuals are not Monroe County residents but traveled through the airport on their way to another destination, health officials said.
Any Monroe County residents who were on flights affected by the potential exposure and require specific guidance will be contacted directly by the Monroe County Department of
Public Health, according to health officials.
Risk of illness considered low
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that spreads through direct contact with respiratory secretions from an infected person.
Monroe County health officials said the risk of illness from these exposures is considered low because many people in the community have immunity through vaccination or previous infection.
What to watch for
Symptoms typically appear 10 to 12 days after exposure but can take as long as 21 days to develop.
Early symptoms can include a runny nose, cough, slight fever, reddened or light-sensitive eyes and a fever that can rise to 103 to 105 degrees. Small, bluish-white spots surrounded by a reddish area also may appear inside the mouth.
A red, blotchy rash generally develops during the second stage of the illness, beginning on the face and spreading downward to the hands and feet.
People who were potentially exposed Sept. 8 should monitor for signs and symptoms through Tuesday, Sept. 29.
People who were potentially exposed Sept. 13 or 14 should monitor for signs and symptoms through Monday, Oct. 5.
People who do not know their vaccination status should contact their health care provider or local health department to determine next steps.
Monroe County residents can call the Monroe County Department of Public Health at (585) 753-5555. People who live elsewhere should contact the health department in the county where they reside.
New measles tracker in New York
The New York State Department of Health this month launched a new measles dashboard that allows health care officials and the public to track measles cases and local risks across the state.
As of Sept. 12, the dashboard showed 57 confirmed measles cases in New York this year: six in New York City and 51 elsewhere in the state. The state said the figures are preliminary and subject to change as case investigations continue.
The dashboard does not include the two people who traveled through the Rochester airport because they are not New York residents, according to health officials.
Cases are added to weekly totals as information is received, health officials said.
According to the state's data, upstate New York has seen a growing number of cases, including 10 confirmed cases in Steuben County and nine in Seneca County.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Measles exposure reported at Rochester airport. What to know
