Three children with measles are being treated at Golisano Children’s Hospital as Rochester-area health officials urge residents to check their vaccination status amid an increase in measles cases across the region.
Monroe County Commissioner of Public Health Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown said Wednesday that there is no current evidence of measles spreading within the county. But officials warned that declining vaccination rates and cases elsewhere in the region increase the risk of additional infections.
The update comes after two people who traveled through Frederick Douglass Greater Rochester International Airport in early September tested positive for measles, according to the Monroe County Department of Public Health.
Measles is a serious and
contagious virus that can lead to severe complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, or brain swelling. It spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes into the air and then others breathe in the virus. People can also become infected by touching an infected surface then touching their eyes, mouth or nose.
- A person with measles is contagious from four days before a rash appears until four days after it begins. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.
- 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.
Dr. Michael Apostolakos, chief medical officer of Strong Memorial and Highland hospitals, said three pediatric patients with measles are currently being treated at Golisano Children's Hospital.
"We've been working with our affiliates and other hospitals, there's strong communication when patients are identified and need care that can only be provided in Rochester," Apostolakos said. "That has helped us prevent exposures in the hospital and be ready to take care of the patients."
According to health experts, about one in five unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles needs to go and get care in a hospital. Those who are especially vulnerable to the illness are babies, young children, those who are pregnant and people with weakened immune systems.
Brown said two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles. She also recommended that parents who have a baby between six to 11 months old should consider getting their child an early MMR dose in addition to the regular two dose series.
New York had reported 108 measles cases this year through Oct. 3, including 92 since July 15 in under-immunized rural communities across 18 counties, well above typical annual levels, according to the executive order.
Seven of the cases were in New York City and 101 were elsewhere in the state, the governor's office said. Local health departments have administered more than 1,000 MMR doses in rural areas since July 15.
All Monroe County residents are encouraged to check their vaccination records and make sure they and their families are up to date.
"If you cannot locate vaccination records then I would also encourage community members to reach out to their primary care provider to discuss revaccination or a simple blood test to check for measles immunity," Brown said.
In addition to the measles update, health experts also noted a shortage of hospital beds in the region. The Finger Lakes has the fewest hospital beds per capita of any region in New York State and is amongst the lowest in the nation.
"We have about 1.6 hospital beds for every 1000 residents, nationally that number is about 2.3, so we have around a third less hospital beds per capita than other areas in the nation," Apostolakos said.
Those who are experiencing a medical emergency are encouraged to go to the emergency department. If the condition is not an emergency consider calling your primary care provider, visiting an urgent care center or using virtual urgent care.
— Kerria Weaver works as the Government and You reporter for the Democrat and Chronicle, with a focus on how government actions affect communities and neighborhoods in Rochester and in Monroe County. Get in touch at kweaver@gannett.com.
— Reuters contributed additional information for this article.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 3 children hospitalized with measles in Rochester
