Jefferson County confirms measles case; health officials urge vaccination
Jefferson County Public Health Service announced Oct. 15 that an unvaccinated individual in the county tested positive for measles, with the result confirmed by the New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory.
By Caleb Mercer, ClickNNY North Country Desk
Jefferson County Public Health Service announced Oct. 15 that an unvaccinated individual in the county tested positive for measles. The New York State Department of Health Wadsworth Laboratory confirmed the result, and close contacts were identified and notified, the county service said.
Vaccinated members of the general public remain at very low risk of infection, health officials said. The county offers the two-dose measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, including through the Vaccines for Adults and Vaccines for Children programs for eligible residents without health insurance.
Lewis County reported its first measles case on Sept. 26 and had reached 13 cases by Oct. 7. Statewide, New York had 57 confirmed cases as of Sept. 12, and Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a disaster emergency executive order Oct. 5 because of rising measles rates. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 4,062 measles cases nationally as of Oct. 9.
Measles can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can remain airborne for up to two hours. Unvaccinated people, infants younger than 12 months and immunocompromised residents face the greatest risk. Children ages 6 to 11 months may be advised to receive an early dose before international travel or entering an outbreak setting.
Symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure, though they can take up to 21 days. They include fever, cough, a runny nose and red, watery eyes. A rash can begin three to five days after those symptoms and spread from the hairline downward. Possible complications include pneumonia, encephalitis, miscarriage, preterm birth and immune amnesia.
Residents seeking vaccine information can call Jefferson County Public Health at 315-786-3700 or visit the county’s immunization services page. Anyone who develops measles symptoms should call a health care provider or emergency department before arriving so staff can take precautions against airborne transmission.
The New York State Department of Health’s measles dashboard updates Tuesdays with case counts through the previous Saturday.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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