A person who tested positive for measles visited the Emergency Department at Strong Memorial Hospital this week, potentially exposing others to the highly contagious disease.
The Monroe County Department of Public Health said Wednesday that the potential exposure occurred between 11 p.m. Monday, Sept. 7, and 2 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8. The patient was not a Monroe County resident, health officials said.
Hospital and health department officials are reviewing records of patients who were in the Emergency Department during the exposure period. Patients without documented evidence of immunity will be contacted by hospital or health department 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 this exposure 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.
Anyone who was in the hospital's Emergency Department during the three-hour exposure period should monitor for signs and symptoms through Sept. 28, health officials said.
People who do not know their vaccination status should contact their health care provider or the health department to determine next steps.
What to do if you become sick
Anyone who becomes ill should seek medical care immediately. However, they should contact their health care provider or an emergency department before arriving to avoid exposing others.
The health department also advises people who become ill not to go to work, school or other public places. They should also notify their local health department about the possible measles exposure.
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.
Health officials said vaccination is the best way to prevent measles and recommend two doses of the MMR vaccine for protection.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Measles exposure reported at Strong Memorial Hospital. What patients should know
