TARRYTOWN, NY, July 28, 2010 -- The Westchester County Department of Health is advising the public of the potential exposure in Tarrytown to an individual with measles. The Westchester County Department of Health was notified of this lab-confirmed case of measles on July 27 and began the investigation in association with the N.Y.S. Department of Health and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Prior exposures to this infected individual may have occurred at the following places and times:
• On July 23 at a social event at the EF International Language School in Tarrytown. This event was attended by about 200 high school students from abroad.
• Between 5 p.m. on July 23 and noon on July 24 at the Westchester Marriott Tarrytown or in the Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, or Eva’s Hair Salon, both of which are located at this hotel. More than 900 people, mostly from the East Coast, are believed to have been at the hotel during this period. The individual stayed at the Marriott during this time but did not visit Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse or the hair salon. However, there is the potential chance that airborne transmission of the measles virus could have occurred into the restaurant or hair salon due to shared ventilation systems with the hotel.
The EF International Language School, Marriott hotel, restaurant and hair salon have been cooperating with the Health Department to communicate with their staff members and clientele who may have been exposed. The individual infected with measles was hospitalized, has now recovered and is no longer contagious.
While the risk to most is low because most people are likely to be immune to measles, anyone who may have been at any of the above settings during this time should contact their own physician to review their vaccinations and immunity against measles and be on the alert for symptoms of measles. Symptoms may appear as early as July 30, or as late as August 14, 2010.
Anyone who does not live in Westchester County also should notify the health department where they live of the potential exposure. Individuals from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Virginia are known to have stayed at the Tarrytown Marriott during this time.
To prevent the spread of measles, individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles, should CALL their physicians, health care providers or emergency rooms BEFORE going for care. When they go for their medical assessment, they should let the medical staff know that they may been exposed to a potential measles case so that they can be placed in a separate room and not potentially expose others in a waiting room.
Measles symptoms generally appear in two stages: early symptoms include a runny nose, cough and a slight fever. Eyes may become reddened and sensitive to light, while the fever may gradually rise each day. Later symptoms begin on the third day and consist of a temperature of >101 F, and a red, blotchy rash lasting four to seven days. The rash usually begins on the face and then spreads over the entire body. Little white spots may also appear inside the mouth. Symptoms usually appear in 10-12 days after exposure, although they may occur as early as 7 or as late as 21 days after exposure.
Measles is one of the most readily transmitted communicable diseases and can be contracted at any age. Measles is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people, or, less frequently, by airborne transmission.
Generally, people who were born prior to 1957, children, adolescents and adults who have had two doses of measles vaccine, or individuals who have had physician-diagnosed measles are considered immune from getting measles. Anyone who has had only one measles vaccine dose should obtain a second dose to bring their immunization up to date.
Measles is a reportable condition. For all cases of suspect measles, the Westchester County Department of Health also reminds all health providers of the IMMEDIATE need to report and discuss specific testing that should be done. Healthcare providers should contact the Westchester County Department of Health Division of Disease Control at 914-813-5159 during working hours, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. After hours, call 914-224-9869.
For additional information about measles, please go towww.cdc.gov/measles/index.html or www.westchestergov.com or call the Westchester County Department of Health at 914-813-5000.
