May 27, 2011

ADVISORY:  CASE OF MEASLES IN NASSAU COUNTY

Uniondale, NY - The Nassau County Department of Health today announced that a case of measles has been confirmed in an adult who resides in Nassau County. 

Residents may have been exposed to this individual with measles if they visited the following location(s) on the dates and times listed below:

Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury, NY 11797.    Exposure: Sunday, May 22 from 6:30 pm to 12:00 midnight.

Factory/Office Building, 99 Second Avenue, Garden City Park, NY 11040.  Exposure:  Monday, May 23 from 8:30 am to 9:00 pm.

Factory/Office Building, 55 Denton Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.   Exposure:  Tuesday, May 24 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm.

Office/Medical Building, 520 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530.  Exposure: Tuesday May 24 from 2:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Office/Medical Building, 999 Franklin Avenue, Garden City, NY 11530.  Exposure: Wednesday May 25 from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.

The Health Department will be providing immune globulin prevention injections to individuals at high risk. High risk individuals are: unimmunized against measles, weakened immune system, and infants under the age of one year who may have been exposed at the above mentioned locations.

The Nassau County Department of Health will be providing immune globulin:

Saturday, May 28, 2011

12 Noon – 2 PM

Nassau County Department of Health

106 Charles Lindbergh Blvd.

Uniondale, NY 11553

If you have received the recommended childhood vaccinations, which include the measles vaccine, you should be adequately protected from contracting measles.

In our efforts to prevent the spread of illness, Nassau County Department of Health is advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to call their health care providers or emergency rooms before going for care so that others are not exposed to the illness. 

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus and is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people.  Measles symptoms generally appear in two stages. In the first stage, which lasts two to four days, the individual may have a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. The eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light while the fever gradually rises each day.  The second stage begins on the third to seventh day and consists of a red blotchy rash lasting five to six days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads downward and outward, reaching the hands and feet. The rash fades in the same order that it appeared, from head to extremities. Symptoms of measles usually appear in 10 to 12 days but can occur as late as 18 days after exposure.  Although measles is usually considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age.

The Health Department has notified all emergency rooms, the Nassau County Medical Society and the Nassau County Pediatric Society that an individual with measles has been diagnosed in Nassau County.

For additional information about measles, visit the Health Department website at http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/Health/index.html or call us at 516.227.9697.