Allegany County public health officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 18 the third confirmed measles case in the county and the first confirmed or presumptive infection recorded outside the town of New Hudson.
Meanwhile, the number of presumed positives continues to rise, with as many as four new measles cases since Aug. 15, Allegany County officials said.
The Allegany County Public Health Department said the newly-confirmed case of measles is in the Town of Independence,
Through contact tracing and epidemiological investigation, public health officials have identified a potential common exposure link associated with horse auctions, as well as recent travel within New York state and out-of-state to both Ohio and Pennsylvania.
Health officials said the measles infection in Independence is not linked to the initial positive result for measles on Aug. 2 in an Allegany County resident who had traveled to Ohio.
The Independence case brings Allegany County’s overall numbers to three confirmed cases and at least 14 presumed positive cases of measles, according to county and state health officials.
While broad community risk across Allegany County remains low, according to Allegany County Public Health, certain populations face a heightened risk of serious illness or severe complications if exposed.
Health experts: High-risk groups should practice vigilance, take precautions
County health officials are encouraging increased vigilance, preventative action, and symptom monitoring for high-susceptibility groups, including:
Public health officials urge all residents, particularly high-risk individuals and those who attend livestock or agricultural events or travel frequently, to monitor closely for symptoms. The risk to fully vaccinated individuals remains very low, officials said.
Key measles symptoms to watch for
Seven to 14 days, and up to 21 days after a measles infection:
The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet, according to the New York State Department of Health.
Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
For additional information on measles resources and local vaccination clinics, visit www.alleganyco.gov or call 585-268-9250.
Email Neal Simon at nsimon@gannett.com. To get unlimited access to the latest news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: Number of Allegany County confirmed measles cases now at three
Reporting by Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune / The Evening Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Neal Simon, Hornell Evening Tribune | USA TODAY Network
