Authorities are warning about possible measles exposures on the Lower East Side and in SoHo, though they didn’t immediately say exactly how many people may have been exposed nor where.
The city’s health department confirmed there are two cases linked to these exposures. It says it is working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed.
Vaccination rates are so high in New York City that the overwhelming majority is immune, which means the risk to the overall public is low. People who haven’t been vaccinated or have underlying issues and have been in the affected areas are at higher risk.
So far this year, the health department has recorded 13 measles cases across the five boroughs. There has been an increase in cases in the United States and globally, health officials caution, and urge parents to ensure they and their children are up-to-date with their vaccinations.
What are the symptoms of measles?
Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.
The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.
Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.
How can you treat measles?
There’s no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.