ROCHESTER, N.Y. — A person with measles visited Strong Memorial Hospital’s emergency department earlier this month, potentially exposing about 100 people to the highly contagious virus.The infected person, who was not vaccinated and is not a Monroe County resident, was in the adult or pediatric emergency departments from 11 p.m. on Sept. 7 through 2 a.m. on Sept. 8, Monroe County health officials Wednesday. RELATED: More measles cases confirmed in Steuben County, health official weighs in on staying safe“Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease, so it’s caused by a virus that spread by direct contact with either nasal secretions or from the throat,” said Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown, the county’s commissioner for public health. “It is such a small virus that it can hang out in the air in a space for two hours after a patient has left.”The Monroe County Department of Public Health is reviewing records of patients who were in the emergency department during the exposure period. Hospital or county health officials will contact anyone who was there without documented evidence of immunity.Anyone who was in the emergency department during that time should monitor themselves for symptoms through Sept. 28. The department’s phone number is 585-753-5555.“If you start to feel ill, do not go straight into the doctors,” Dr. Vélez de Brown said. “This is the one time when I would ask, definitely contact your healthcare provider or call the emergency department, but let them know the concern that you were potentially in one of these two locations in recent weeks where we’ve had exposures.”Tracking measles cases locallyMeasles is a very contagious respiratory disease, caused by a virus and spread by contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in 35 years, and News10NBC has been tracking cases locally. Here are the latest numbers:In addition, a person infected with measles traveled through the Louise M. Slaughter Train Station in Rochester on Saturday, Aug. 29. Monroe County health officials say the person wasn’t a county resident, but may have exposed others. The risk of getting measles is low for people who have gotten vaccinated or have had measles in the past. You can learn more about getting vaccinated here.Symptoms of measlesMeasles symptoms usually appear 10 to 12 days after exposure but may take as long as 21 days.Symptoms typically appear in two stages. The first stage includes a runny nose, cough, and a slight fever. In addition, eyes may become reddened and small bluish-white spots, surrounded by a red area, may appear in the mouth. The second stage includes a red blotchy rash lasting five to six days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads downward and outward, reaching the hands and feet. If you have measles symptoms, call your doctor before going to a clinic, so they can prevent you from exposing others. “The best way that the community can protect itself is by vaccination,” Dr. Vélez de Brown said. “One MMR vaccine is calculated to be 93% effective in preventing a person from developing measles if they have been exposed. And then the combination of two valid MMR vaccines is up to 97% effective.”Monroe County’s vaccination rate is 86% of children having had one dose by two years of age, down from 87% in January 2025. Health officials recommend children receive the MMR vaccine at their first birthday and fourth birthday.For families traveling, officials recommend children can receive the MMR vaccine as early as six months of age, though this does not replace the need for vaccines at one year and four years.“We are seeing vaccine rates dropping across the country,” Dr. Vélez de Brown added. “Even here, amongst a very well-educated, well-informed population, we’re seeing the trend of slowly decreasing rates of folks being vaccinated.”Again, anyone with concerns about potential exposure can call the Monroe County Department of Public Health at 585-753-5555. Residents of other counties should contact their local health departments.
