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Measles Outbreak: County Officials List Latest Sites Of Exposure Amid Statewide Spread

EAST MEADOW, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Multiple counties are tracking places where people may have been exposed to the measles and stepping up ways to contain the growing outbreak.

Officials in Orange County are tracking the locations visited by a person infected with measles who visited the Woodbury Common Premium Outlets mall, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported Thursday.

The Department of Health said people could have been exposed at the Nike Factory Store or Sayki Men's Fashion Store on March 31 between 4 p.m. and 9 p.m.

The danger of measles exposure can last on surfaces for two to four hours, health officials say. 

The Health Department in Rockland County, where the total number of active infections hit 180 cases, warned of a case on April 4 where people may have been exposed at Hudson Valley Radiology, vehicles used by International Taxi and La Familia Taxi, and Spring Valley Drug Pharmacy.

Dipak Rao is the owner of the pharmacy and said the health department called him Wednesday warning about cases that had not become rashes yet.

"The time the person walked in, they said he did not have any symptoms," Rao said. "The kid got symptoms after a few days. Just as a precaution they called us."

An ongoing challenge has been infected people refusing to talk to health inspectors and tell them where they've been around the area.

"Without that information, we can't give warning to other people and, quite frankly, it's very selfish," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said.

ACTIVE MEASLES INFECTIONS AS OF EARLY APRIL 2019

  • New York City: 285 confirmed cases of measles in Brooklyn and Queens
  • Elsewhere In New York: 180 in Rockland County, 17 in Orange County, 8 in Westchester County and 2 in Sullivan County
  • In New Jersey: 4 in Monmouth County and 7 in Ocean County

In Nassau County, where there have been no reported cases, health officials held a news conference warning residents about the state's ongoing measles outbreak.

"While Nassau County has not had a case of measles since 2013 -- that's almost six years -- we are on alert," County Executive Laura Curran said.

Nassau County Health Officials On Guard Against Measles Spreading

The announcement came a day after Westchester County officials confirmed eight cases, in addition to the more than 400 in Rockland County and Brooklyn combined.

The highly contagious virus has spread mostly in Orthodox Jewish communities.

Nassau County health officials have been in touch with Jewish community leaders to encourage vaccinations.

"The vaccine is safe and effective," said County Health Commissioner Dr. Larry Eisenstein. "We have millions of people who have gotten it and have been protected from disease."

On Wednesday, officials in Westchester County announced eight unvaccinated children -- ages six months to 14 years -- have been infected with the disease, including six kids from the same family.

"Two children were in the hospital because of this. No child should have to become ill from a disease that we can easily prevent," County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler said.

MEASLES HEALTH EMERGENCY RESOURCES

Earlier this week, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio threatened to fine or even shut down yeshivas that allow unvaccinated children to attend.

Last year, more than 26,000 students across the state cited a religious exemption from receiving one or more required vaccinations. State Sen. Brad Hoylman is among a number of lawmakers who want to get rid of that exemption.

"A child may die because of this religious exemption," he said.

Web Extra: Why 'Measles Parties' Are A Bad Idea For Parents

In Nassau County, less than 2 percent of public and private school students have religious exemptions that would allow them to opt out of receiving the required vaccines. Still, there are some schools with a higher rate of unvaccinated children, where a potential case could spread quickly.

"The health department does meet with them, does reinforce that the exemptions are being done in accordance with the law, and does certainly spend significant time trying to educate," Dr. Eisenstein said.

Nassau University Medical Center is offering vaccines, regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

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