Rockland Up to 108 Measles Cases

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — There are now 108 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County as well as three suspected cases that the Department of Health is continuing to investigate.

Rockland officials ask parents to have babies as young as six months old start the vaccine process (the usual start is at one year). They also warn that people born before 1957, who have always been considered immune, could get at least a mild case of measles if exposed in this outbreak.

"We consider all of Rockland potentially exposed," said Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, Commissioner of the Rockland County Department of Health.

There are bad measles outbreaks across the world. These cases are connected with Ultra-Orthodox communities where vaccination rates are low and with travel to Israel, where a massive outbreak has been occurring.

Because measles is highly contagious — the virus is airborne and can live two hours after an infected person has left the area, and infected people are contagious four days before and after the rash appears — the way to prevent measles is vaccination and isolation.

Health officials ask anyone who might be infected to call the doctor before going in for a check-up.

SEE ALSO: Measles Outbreak: 160 Cases And Counting In Brooklyn, Rockland