Steuben County has confirmed another measles case, bringing the countywide total to nine as public health officials continue contact tracing around a growing cluster of infections.
The newest case involves an unvaccinated resident who had contact with a previously reported measles case, according to a Sept. 4 notice from Steuben County Public Health. Health officials were notified of the positive test result Sept. 3.
The resident is isolating and will remain isolated until no longer considered contagious. The county did not release additional information about the person, citing patient privacy.
The latest case continues a steady increase that has unfolded over the past several weeks. FingerLakes1.com previously reported that Steuben County’s total reached four cases in late August, then climbed to six and, most recently, eight after two additional infections were confirmed earlier this week.
Those two cases that brought the total to eight also involved unvaccinated residents who had contact with previously infected people. Both had isolated at home and were no longer considered contagious when the county announced their cases.
With Thursday’s announcement, Steuben County has now identified nine cases in the current cluster.
Contact tracing continues
Steuben County Public Health said potential exposure locations associated with the latest case have been identified.
The county has not publicly named those locations. Instead, health officials are working with the New York State Department of Health and health care providers to identify and directly notify people known to have been exposed.
Information and guidance are being provided to those contacts.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne virus, making rapid contact tracing especially important when a case is confirmed.
The county continues to say the overall risk to the general public remains low, particularly among people who are fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated residents face greater risk
Health officials said people who are unvaccinated, pregnant, younger than 12 months or immunocompromised face a higher risk from measles and should speak with a health care provider if they believe they may have been exposed.
Residents are generally considered immune if they have documentation showing two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, were born before 1957 or have previously had immunity confirmed through a blood test.
Anyone who knows or suspects they were exposed is being advised to monitor for symptoms for 21 days.
Early symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure and can include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red or watery eyes.
A red, blotchy rash generally develops three to five days after those initial symptoms begin, often starting around the face or hairline before spreading downward across the body.
Some preventive treatment is time-sensitive
Steuben County is also reminding residents that people who are unvaccinated or otherwise at elevated risk should contact a health care provider quickly after a known exposure.
The MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure may prevent measles or reduce the severity of illness in some cases.
Immune globulin may also be an option when administered within six days of exposure for certain patients.
Anyone experiencing symptoms or who believes they were exposed should not walk into a doctor’s office, urgent care center or emergency room without first calling ahead.
Giving advance notice allows health care workers to isolate a potentially infected patient before arrival and reduce the risk of exposing other people in waiting rooms or other areas.
Steuben County Public Health can be reached at 607-664-2438 for questions about the outbreak, exposure guidance or measles vaccination.
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