Steuben County health officials are urging residents to check their vaccination status and watch for symptoms after two additional measles infections brought the county’s confirmed case count to four.
Steuben County Public Health said the two newest cases involved unvaccinated residents. One was linked to contact with a previously confirmed case, while the other developed symptoms without a known connection to an earlier infection.
The county received positive test results Aug. 27 and 28. According to the health department, one of the residents began experiencing symptoms Aug. 23 and the other Aug. 24. Both were isolated at home and are no longer considered contagious.
Possible public exposure locations have been notified, while the state Department of Health and local health care providers are working with Steuben County officials to identify and directly contact people known to have been exposed.
Officials said the overall risk to the general public remains low, particularly for people who are fully vaccinated against measles. The county considers people generally immune if they have documented records showing two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, were born before 1957 or have had immunity confirmed through a blood test.
People who know or believe they were exposed are being advised to monitor themselves and family members for symptoms for 21 days.
Early measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and can include a fever that rises above 101 degrees, coughing, a runny nose and red or watery eyes. A red, blotchy rash can develop three to five days after those initial symptoms, typically beginning on the face near the hairline before spreading down the body.
Unvaccinated residents, young infants, pregnant women and people who are immunocompromised face a higher risk of serious complications, according to the county.
Health officials said some people who are exposed may have post-exposure options if they act quickly. An MMR vaccine administered within 72 hours of exposure or immune globulin given within six days can prevent or reduce the severity of measles in some cases. Unvaccinated pregnant people and those who are immunocompromised who believe they were exposed should contact a health care provider or public health officials immediately.
The county is also warning anyone who develops symptoms or suspects an exposure not to simply walk into a doctor’s office, urgent care center or emergency room.
Residents should call ahead and explain that they may have been exposed to measles so medical staff can take precautions before their arrival and reduce the possibility of exposing other patients.
The four confirmed Steuben County cases come amid measles activity elsewhere in the Finger Lakes. Seneca County has separately reported five confirmed cases and has said its situation meets the state definition of an outbreak. There’s no information establishing a connection between the cases in the two counties.
Residents with questions can contact Steuben County Public Health at 607-664-2438.
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