Emergency room patients potentially exposed to measles at Strong Memorial Hospital

Key Points:

• The Monroe County Department of Public Health warned of potential measles exposure at Strong Memorial Hospital after a non-resident who tested positive visited the emergency department between 11 p.m. Monday and 2 a.m. Tuesday, possibly exposing nearly 100 people.
• Patients without documented immunity who visited the emergency department during that time are being contacted to monitor symptoms through Sept. 28 and seek medical care if ill, as measles virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves.
• Recent measles cases have been reported in several counties in the Rochester-Finger Lakes region, attributed to declining vaccination rates fueled by misinformation and fear regarding vaccines.
• The MMR vaccine remains highly effective, with two doses providing 97% protection; Monroe County’s MMR vaccination rate is currently 86%, below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks, though no cases have been reported locally since 2019.
• Health officials urge timely vaccination, including for children as young as six months, especially when traveling, to prevent further spread amid rising measles outbreaks nationwide and potential loss of the U.S. measles-free status.