FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 25, 2019
Contact: John Lyon, Director of Strategic Communications (845) 638-5645
Patricia Schnabel Ruppert, D.O., M.P.H., CPE, DABFM, FAAFP (845) 364-2512

MEASLES OUTBREAK DECLARED OVER IN ROCKLAND

NEW CITY, NY - - Rockland County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert declared the end to the 2018-2019 measles outbreak in Rockland. A measles outbreak is officially declared over 42 days (two incubation periods) after the last rash onset date of the last person with measles. This means no new measles cases were reported to the health department in the affected area.

The first measles case in Rockland was identified on October 1, 2018, with the last rash onset from measles identified on August 13, 2019. Since the outbreak began in October 2018, there have been 312 reported cases of measles in the county. The Health Department with community partners such as Refuah Health Center, private pediatricians, and family doctors administered 29,027 doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine (shots).

"I am so proud of the way our community has rallied together to fight this outbreak. We could not have brought it to an end without the help our Department of Health received from federal and state public health agencies along with the community leaders and organizations, elected officials, schools, hospitals, clinics, doctors, and residents who worked together against this dangerous disease," said County Executive Ed Day.

Rockland County has been part of the largest measles outbreak in New York State since 1992, and the outbreak occurred mostly among unvaccinated individuals, with 92% of the Rockland cases never having received or had documentation of receiving the MMR vaccine. To prevent future outbreaks, the health department continues to offer MMR, along with flu, and other required vaccinations. Staying up-to-date with your measles vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, your family, and the community, especially those who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.

"This outbreak involved a large amount of staff time and resources. Thanks to our highly skilled and dedicated team at the Health Department, community outreach, case investigations, and required reporting were completed competently and in a timely manner. As one of the most highly contagious diseases in the world, almost 1,200 residents during the outbreak period were actively monitored to help contain the outbreak," said Dr. Ruppert.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles is still common in many parts of the world. Travelers with measles could continue to bring the disease into the U.S. where it can spread in communities where groups of individuals are unvaccinated or undervaccinated.

The Health Department offers clinics where residents of all ages can get their MMR and other shots such as the Flu Clinic, Child Immunization Clinic, and Adult Immunization Clinic (for eligible patients). To make an appointment at one of our immunization clinics, or for more information, call (845) 364-2497 or visit
http://rcklnd.us/immunize.

Residents can get more information about measles by visiting the New York State Department of Health measles webpage at https://on.ny.gov/2J543b5, and by calling the New York State Department of Health toll-free Measles Information Line at (888) 364-4837. For more information about the flu and the flu vaccine clinics visit http://rcklnd.us/flu or call (845) 364-2534.

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