The Allegany County Department of Health said Sunday, Aug. 2 that it’s investigating one confirmed case of measles in an unvaccinated Allegany County resident who recently traveled to Ohio. Here is what New York residents need to know.
The health department was notified of the positive result on Aug. 2 after the resident began showing symptoms a day earlier, county health officials said.
According to the health department, the individual is isolating at home until they are no longer contagious.
Contact tracing identifies nearly two dozen with possible exposure
The health department said it conducts thorough contact tracing of confirmed measles cases because it is a highly contagious airborne virus that can result in severe complications for infected individuals in some cases.
The health department said potential public exposure site(s) have been identified, and the department has reached out to those who may have come in contact with the resident.
To date, 23 direct contacts have been identified through contact tracing and have been provided information and guidance, officials said.
The department said it notified other community and health care partners to place them on high alert.
Unvaccinated, immunocompromised at highest risk
Despite the confirmed case, Allegany County health officials said the overall risk of measles to the general public remains low, particularly for individuals who are fully vaccinated against the disease.
However, measles is extremely contagious, and anyone unvaccinated, pregnant, under 12 months of age, or immunocompromised is at a higher risk for severe complications and should talk with their health care provider, the health department said.
Most commonly, the measles infection causes high fever, cough, conjunctivitis (red, runny eyes), runny nose and a rash that begins on the face and eventually covers the entire body. The illness lasts about a week if there are no complications, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.
When complications do occur, they can include ear infections, pneumonia, and encephalitis or inflammation of the brain that can lead to permanent neurologic damage and even death.
How does measles spread, how long do infected remain contagious?
Measles is a viral illness spread through coughing and sneezing, Allegany County health officials said. The virus can remain alive and infectious in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours after an infected person has left the room.
An individual who has measles is contagious 4-days prior to a rash beginning and 4-days after the rash appears. Symptoms of measles typically begin between 7 and 14 days after exposure to the virus. Approximately 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals who are exposed to the virus will contract it.
On average, measles kills between one and three of every 1,000 infected children, according to public health data.
Measles cases in U.S. already surpass total in 2025
USA TODAY reported that as of Thursday, July 23, approximately 2,318 measles cases from 35 separate outbreaks have reached 43 states and Washington, D.C. since the beginning of 2026, according to the CDC, resulting in at least 151 hospitalizations. The majority, 93%, occurred in unvaccinated people, and nearly 69% occurred in children ages 19 and younger. No deaths have been reported.
With five months remaining in the year, measles cases in the U.S. have surpassed last year’s total and represent the highest number of such cases recorded in the United States since the highly contagious disease was eliminated from the country nearly three decades ago, according to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.
What unvaccinated should do if exposed to measles virus
The health department said individuals who are unvaccinated, pregnant, or immunocompromised and believe they were exposed to the virus should immediately contact their health care provider or the department of health.
The MMR vaccine given within 72 hours of exposure, or immune globulin (IG) given within six days, can prevent or reduce the severity of measles illness, officials said.
The department advised patients to call ahead before seeking medical care and don’t walk into a clinic, urgent care, or emergency room without calling first.
Allegany County health officials said residents who have concerns or questions may contact the Allegany County Department of Health at 585-268-9250 or visit the department online.
This article originally appeared on The Evening Tribune: What NY residents need to know about confirmed measles case
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
