Health Officials Confirm Second Case Of Measles In Nassau County

Nassau County health officials confirmed a second case of measles in an adult in the county, and warned people that they may have been exposed.

Officials said that the person may be associated with another confirmed case of measles in the county. They did not identify the person or where they live, but they traveled around the Mineola area.

"The county’s disease control team is working non-stop with New York State Department of Health to investigate this case and determine the potential exposures," said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. "Nassau County Department of Health will take appropriate action based on the findings of this case."

Measles is a serious respiratory disease that causes a rash and fever. It is very contagious. You can catch it just by being in a room where someone with measles coughed or sneezed. People usually develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by appearance of a rash. People are considered infectious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure.

According to the county, there is potential exposure to the public. Anyone who visited the following areas at the specified dates and times may have been exposed:

Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019

• LIRR Mineola Station to New York Penn Station between the hours of 3 and 7 p.m.
• New York Penn Station to LIRR Mineola Station between the hours of 11:15 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.

Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019

• LIRR Mineola Station to New York Penn Station between the hours of 10:15 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
• New York Penn Station to LIRR Mineola Station between the hours of 6:30 and 9:30 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019

• Noches de Columbia Restaurant, 204 Jericho Turnpike in Mineola between the hours of 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
• MTA shuttle from LIRR Mineola Station to LIRR Hempstead Station between 2:30 and 5 p.m.
• LIRR Hempstead Station to LIRR Jamaica Station between the hours of 3 and 6 p.m.
• LIRR Jamaica Station to New York Penn Station between the hours of 3:50 and 6:30 p.m.
• New York Penn Station to LIRR Hempstead Station between the hours of 10 p.m. and 2:30 a.m.
• MTA shuttle from LIRR Hempstead Station to LIRR Mineola Station between the hours 12:15 a.m. and 2:30 a.m.

These times reflect the period that the infected person was in the identified areas and a two-hour period after they left those areas, because the virus remains alive in air and on surfaces for up to two hours. To prevent the spread of illness, the department of health is advising those who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic or a local emergency department before going for care. This will help to prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the disease.

"We have a solemn obligation to protect the health and safety of all 1.4 million people who call Nassau County home — especially the thousands of vulnerable people in our communities who cannot receive vaccinations due to health conditions or young age," Curran said. "We will continue to emphasize that the single best way to protect our children and the entire community from serious diseases is through recommended vaccinations. The science remains clear: vaccines are safe, effective, and life-saving."