Health officials have issued an urgent warning after a measles case was confirmed in a Suffolk County infant too young to be vaccinated. The child, who reportedly contracted the disease while traveling, has now potentially exposed a dozen others at a prominent Long Island medical facility. This is getting bad!
At a glance:
• A baby in Suffolk County, NY has tested positive for measles, marking the third case in the state this year
• The unvaccinated infant likely contracted measles while traveling outside the U.S.
• Twelve Suffolk County residents may have been exposed at Cohen Children’s Medical Center
• The child is under one year old and therefore not eligible for the MMR vaccine
• Suffolk County has a high vaccination rate with 82.6% of children receiving at least one MMR shot by age two
Infant Diagnosed After International Travel
An infant in Suffolk County has tested positive for the highly contagious measles virus after traveling overseas, and some health officials are extremely worried about how quickly it could spread. The case marks the third confirmed measles infection in New York State this year, with the previous two cases occurring in New York City.
Health officials have determined that the child, who is under one year of age, was not eligible for the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine due to being too young. The standard protocol is to administer the first dose between 12 and 15 months of age – and while some say the Measles vaccine isn’t necessary for everybody, the fact remains that this disease is spreading rapidly and could easily claim more lives.
A child was diagnosed with measles at Cohen Children’s Medical Center, leading Nassau County and state officials to issue a warning to potentially prevent the spread of the virus.https://t.co/ytUiZMfuip
— PIX11 News (@PIX11News) March 25, 2024
Medical Center Exposure Warning Issued
Cohen Children’s Medical Center is now working with public health officials after the infected child was treated at their facility. The hospital has confirmed that twelve additional Suffolk County residents may have been exposed to the virus during the child’s visit.
“A pediatric patient was diagnosed with measles and treated at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. We are actively working with public health officials under established exposure protocols to ensure no further cases arise from this incident,” a spokesperson for Cohen Children’s Hospital stated.
The New York State Health Department warned “there was potential exposure to measles for the public” at the medical center. Contact tracing is currently underway, with the hospital actively reaching out to patients who may have been exposed during specific dates.
— Dovi Safier (@safier) February 18, 2025
Serious Health Risks Highlighted
New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald emphasized the severity of measles infections beyond just the characteristic rash.
“Measles can be very serious. It’s much more than just a rash as complications can include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and often results in hospitalization,” McDonald warned.
Dr. Matthew Harris further explained the concerning nature of the disease, stating, “There’s no treatment for measles, the best we can offer is supportive care. It can cause a devastating pneumonia, it can cause a form of encephalitis that is irreversible and we also know that measles has longstanding impact on your immune system.”
