Possible Mumps Exposure At Rye Urgent Care

RYE, NY — People who visited an urgent care location in Rye earlier this month may have been exposed to the mumps. On Oct. 17, the Department of Health informed Westmed that a patient who was treated at the Rye Urgent Care center Oct. 11 and Oct. 12 tested positive for mumps during a subsequent Greenwich Hospital emergency room visit Oct. 13.

According to a spokeswoman for Westmed, a total of 27 people had a potential exposure during the patient's visit to the urgent care.

Anna Robinson, public relations/content manager for Westmed Medical Group, said in an email to Patch that Westmed followed all health department protocol and informed all the potentially exposed patients, employees and providers via phone. They were also provided with an appropriate care plan.

She said that, for the people who had documented immunization, there was no further need for action.

If immunity was unknown, a titer test for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine was ordered. A vaccine was recommended for those who were not immune.

Robinson said the medical group was confident all people who were potentially exposed were contacted and treated.

"However, if you were in the Urgent Care, Lab or Radiology suites at 1 Theall Road in Rye on Oct. 11, 2019 (8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m) and Oct. 12, 2019 (noon to 1 p.m.), we encourage you to reach out to your primary care physician," she said.

"If you do not have a primary care physician you may call 914-848-8888 or visit www.westmedgroup.com/appointments and get the care you need from a Westmed physician," Robinson said.

A spokeswoman from the county health department said Westmed has been working cooperatively with them.

Caren Halbfinger, public affairs director for the county health department, said there is and was no outbreak of mumps.

She said that, generally speaking, when someone with an infectious disease goes to a medical office, just by being there, he or she can expose others to the disease or illness.

"This is called an exposure," Halbfinger said. "It does not mean that they will become ill."

She said it was routine for the health department to follow up, and anyone who works in a sensitive setting, such as health care or child care, would be excluded from work for a period of time to prevent them from potentially exposing others until the exposure period has ended.

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