Apr 8, 2008 5:39 am US/Eastern
Measles Scare Hits Long Island
Infant With Highly Contagious Case Spent Day At Nassau County Mall
Authorities Urging Residents To Get Vaccinated
UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBS) ―
A case of measles has been identified in Nassau County, prompting health officials to issue an alert on Monday morning regarding a person who was confirmed to have a highly contagious case. Officials are pulling out all the stops to make sure it doesn't become an epidemic.
"The Nassau County Department of Health wants to reach out to high risk populations," said Health Commissioner Dr. Maria Carney.
During a morning news conference, Health Department officials said the victim, identified as an 8-month-old infant, was inside the Fortunoff store at Source Mall in Westbury last Thursday. The victim was also said to have been taken in other stores in Cedarhurst on Central Avenue.
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.
Authorities say anyone who went into the rooms where the victim was up to three hours after the victim could get measles if they are not vaccinated. The Health Department is offering immune globulin prevention injections and urging anyone who believes they are at risk to be vaccinated.
Those at the highest risk include 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.
All these high-risk individuals should contact the health department at 888-844-8657. 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.
Measles, although rare in the United States because most children get the vaccine as part of their regular childhood immunizations, is highly contagious. The virus can travel through the air and is contagious for days before symptoms start.
If you are near someone who has the virus, you can catch it even if they don't cough or sneeze on you.
Symptoms include:
· High fever
· Swollen lymph nodes in the neck
· Red spots in the mouth
· Rashes all over the body
In most cases, it can lead to pneumonia or even seizures.
If you were vaccinated as a child, you may need a booster as an adult.
The virus is usually treated at home with rest, fluids, and medications to lower fever, but it's important to see your doctor and make sure you don't develop complications.
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. Monday night, April 7 through April 9. Individuals should call the 888-844-8657 number to register and get directions.
For more information on measles,
click here.Stay with wcbstv.com and CBS 2 for the latest in this developing story.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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