Lewis County Public Health confirmed a case of measles in an unvaccinated county resident last week, notifying the public after a positive test result came back on September 26. The resident is currently isolated until no longer contagious, and the health department says it has identified and directly contacted everyone known to have been exposed.
Here's the context to keep in mind: this is the second confirmed North Country case this year — Essex County had one earlier this summer — and part of a wider trend. Measles was once considered eliminated in the United States, but cases are steadily rising in rural New York, with at least 62 cases statewide outside New York City. Still, officials are clear that the overall risk remains low, especially for people who are fully vaccinated.
So what should you actually do? Honestly, for most people: nothing urgent — just check. You're generally considered immune to measles if you have documented records of two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine, if you were born before 1957, or if a blood test has confirmed your immunity. If you can't find your records, your doctor's office or pharmacy can usually help you track them down.
The people at real risk are the ones who aren't protected: the unvaccinated, infants under 12 months, pregnant women, and anyone immunocompromised. Measles is brutally contagious — roughly 9 out of 10 unvaccinated people exposed to it will get it, and the virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room. An infected person is contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after.
Early symptoms show up 7 to 14 days after exposure: a high fever (often above 101), cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Three to five days after those symptoms begin, a red blotchy rash usually appears, starting on the face along the hairline and spreading downward.
If you were exposed — or develop these symptoms — the county's guidance is straightforward:
- Stay home. Don't go to work, school, or the store.
- Monitor for 21 days. That's the full watch window.
- Act fast if you're unvaccinated. The MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure, or immune globulin within 6 days, can prevent or reduce the severity of the illness. Call your healthcare provider or Lewis County Public Health right away.
- Call before you go in. Do not walk into a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room unannounced — call first and tell them you may have been exposed to measles so the facility can isolate you and protect other patients.
This is worth taking seriously without getting worked up. Measles can cause serious illness and hospitalization, even death — but it is also one of the most preventable diseases we have. A quick check of your vaccination records this week costs you nothing and answers the question definitively.
For questions about this case or measles vaccination, contact Lewis County Public Health at 315-376-5453.