April 7, 2008

MEASLES ALERT

The Nassau County Department of Health is advising the public and health care professions that there has been a case of measles in Nassau County.  Residents may have been exposed to an individual with measles if they were at the Fortunoff Source Mall or shopping on Central Avenue in Cedarhurst on the afternoon of Thursday, April 3rd.  Specific locations where residents may have been exposed are primarily at these stores:  At the Cedarhurst location:  Verizon Wireless Store, Washington Mutual (WAMU) and Aries Nail Salon between 1:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.  At the Source: Maternity Works, Gymboree, Children’s Place, Old Navy Store and the restrooms between 5:00 p.m. and midnight.

The Health Department will be providing immune globulin prevention injections to individuals at high risk. These are unimmunized pregnant women , unimmunized immunocompromised individuals and infants under the age of one year who were shopping or worked at these sites during these times. Full immunity means two doses of measles vaccine. It is especially important for all these individuals to receive preventive treatment with immune globulin as soon as possible.

All these high risk individuals should contact the health department at 888-844-8657. It is especially important for pregnant women who have been exposed to contact their health care providers as health department personnel need to talk to their obstetricians..  Health care providers who have these high risk patients who may have been exposed to measles may call the Health Department at the same number  The Nassau County Department of Health will be providing vaccine to those high risk individuals who have been exposed.  This will be provided at the Health Department building, 106 Charles Lindbergh Blvd., Uniondale, South entrance to the building, between 5:30 and 8:30 p.m..tonight, April 7 through April 9. Individuals should call the 888-844-8657 number to register and get directions.

In the interest of preventing the spread of this highly communicable disease, the Nassau County Department of Health asks individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles, CALL their physicians, health care providers or emergency rooms BEFORE going for care so that others are not exposed in a waiting room. The Health Department has notified all emergency rooms, the Nassau County Medical Society and the Nassau Pediatric Society that an individual with measles has been diagnosed in Nassau County.

Measles is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people, or, less frequently, by airborne transmission.  Measles is one of the most readily transmitted communicable diseases.  Although measles is usually considered a childhood disease, it can be contracted at any age. 

Measles symptoms generally appear in two stages: Early symptoms include a runny nose, cough and a slight fever.  Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light, while the fever consistently rises each day. Later symptoms begin on the third to seventh day and consist of a temperature of 103-105 F, and a red, blotchy rash lasting four to seven days.  The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads over the entire body.  Little white spots may also appear on the gums and inside the cheeks. Symptoms usually appear in 10-12 days, although they may occur as early as seven or as late as 18 days after exposure.

The Health Department also is asking all health providers to report IMMEDIATELY, by phone, any cases of suspect measles to the Health Department, A blood test to confirm the diagnosis should be obtained.

For additional information about measles, contact our website at www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/health