Nassau County Health Officials Issue Measles Warning

May 14, 2011 4:47 PM

Syringes containing the mumps, measles and rubella vaccine (Photo by Mark Kegans/Getty Images)

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MINEOLA, NY (CBS 2) – Health officials on Long Island are warning residents about a possible measles exposure.

The Nassau County Health Department says someone exposed to the contagious disease was at Winthrop University Hospital sometime between last Friday and Monday. The hospital says the virus was confirmed in an adult traveler from overseas.

Officials say if you were in the emergency room or on the sixth floor of Hoag Pavilion and have not had a measles vaccine, you need to get one.

In order to prevent symptoms, health officials say vaccination within six days of exposure is essential.

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis. Serious complications of measles include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain.

Are you worried about getting the measles? Sound off below in our comments section:

Patrick Thomas

It would be helpful if anytime these articles are released PANICKING about measles and chickenpox that they at least give an exact breakdown of vaccinated vs unvaccinated. Usually the unvaccinated are crucified in the media, whereas it’s USUALLY those who are vaccinated who mostly come down with this “plague” By the way, there are groups out there who would LOVE to get the measles naturally: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_173508559361530&ap=1
NATURAL / ACQUIRED IMMUNITY NETWORK
kendra

thanks for the warning i am going to have to ask my children if they got there up todate shots for that cause it sounds very serious.

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