Earlier concern spurred by the discovery of a measles case in Tarrytown appears to be abating. The County Board of Health has received no word of additional cases since the initial incident led to the Board's issuance of an advisory when the case was reported late in July.
The County and State Health Department, along with the U.S. Centers of Disease for Disease Control and Prevention, were warned of the lab-confirmed measles case on July 27, and were cautioning people who may have been in two venues in Tarrytown where the infected person was. These were "at a Social Event at the EF International Language School in Tarrytown," on July 23rd, and "between 5 p.m. on July 23rd and noon on July24 at "the Westchester Marriott Tarrytown or in the Ruth's Ruth Chris Steakhouse, or Eva's Hair Salon, both of which are located in the hotel."
While most people are likely to be immune to the disease, according to the County Health Department, it recommended that anyone who may have been at any of the above locations during those dates, " to contact their own physician to review their vaccinations and immunity against measles and be on the alert for symptoms of measles."
Measles is a very contagious, airborne disease that was once prevalent in the United States, but was virtually eradicated in the mid-1960's through immunization. The reported measles case was possibly brought into this country by the infected visitor who has recovered after being hospitalized and is no longer contagious.
Symptoms for anyone infected could have appeared as late as August 14 and usually come in two stages as described in the advisory; "early symptoms include a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light, while the fever may gradually rise each day. Later symptoms begin on the third day and consist of a temperature of about 101 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 inside the mouth. Symptoms usually appear in 10-12 days after exposure, although they may occur as early as 7 or as late as 21 days after exposure."
Exposure to the sneezes and coughs of an infected person is the most common way the disease is spread. "To prevent the spread of measles, individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles, should call their physicians, health care providers or emergency rooms before going for care," the County advisory stated. Anyone born in prior to 1957 and those who have had two doses of measles vaccine, or the disease itself, are generally considered immune to measles.
During the decade before measles vaccinations became routine in the U.S., as many as an estimated three to four million people became infected annually. That led to 48,000 hospitalizations and nearly 500 deaths. However, as few as 131 cases were reported to the Centers of Disease Control in a seven month period in 2008. But that was the highest rate in a decade, possibly caused by the numbers of parents who choose not to have their children vaccinated. More than 91% of those infected were unvaccinated, and most outbreaks occur in groups of unvaccinated school age children.