With measles spreading through areas of Texas and New Mexico, the New York State Health Department issued an advisory Thursday cautioning residents about symptoms of the highly contagious yet easily preventable disease and urging parents to make sure their children are vaccinated.
At least one person — a 10-year-old unvaccinated boy — has died amid the ongoing measles outbreak that has sickened scores of people, mostly children, published reports indicated. The Texas Department of Health reported 124 diagnosed cases since early January.
According to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), just two confirmed measles cases have been detected in the five boroughs since the start of the year; in 2024, 14 cases were diagnosed. Large-scale outbreaks in the Big Apple, however, have happened before; more than 600 people in New York City contracted measles in 2019, with the vast majority of cases occurring within the Orthodox Jewish community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Vaccine skepticism and concerns of viral spread
The concern today is the potential for more measles cases in New York and other parts of the U.S. While vaccination is proven to guard against infection, the rise of vaccine skepticism in recent years has convinced some parents not to have their children vaccinated for MMR, leaving them vulnerable to infection.
That also has reduced the power of herd immunity in many communities across the U.S. Herd immunity is achieved when 95% or more of the population has received at least two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Still, according to the state Health Department, vaccination rates among 2-year-olds “have fallen far below herd immunity levels in all counties.”
The DOHMH reported that while 98% of all city children have received two doses of the MMR shot before reaching kindergarten, a requirement under city law, just 81% of children between 2 and 3 years of age only received the first dose of the MMR vaccine.
Despite the skepticism and conspiracy theories spread online, state Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald reiterated that the MMR vaccine is safe, and remains “the best protection for your children against measles and other potentially deadly diseases.”
The impact of a serious measles infection, he added, can also have lasting consequences on a child’s life.
“In some cases, measles can reduce the immune system’s ability to fight other infections like pneumonia,” McDonald said. “I encourage anyone not vaccinated against measles to receive at least one dose of the MMR vaccine and get their children vaccinated with two doses.”
The dangers of measles
Known for causing a widespread body rash, measles is highly contagious and can be spread through coughs or sneezes. By breathing in the virus or touching an infected surface, someone can become infected within two hours of being exposed to an infected person.
The incubation period can last up to 21 days. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a widespread rash — generally marked with small, raised bumps — that develops within three to five days of the first symptoms surfacing.
Measles also has the potential to cause life-threatening conditions, including pneumonia and encephalitis, swelling of the brain; pregnant women who contract measles may also experience early labor, miscarriage, or low birth weight infants.
Acting NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse reiterated the need for parents to have their children fully vaccinated against MMR, as it “not only protects the person who gets vaccinated, but also contributes to community protection by helping stop the spread of the disease, and keeping infants and others who can’t be vaccinated safe.”
The DOHMH notes that children should receive the first MMR dose at 12 months, and the second between 4 and 6 years of age before they enter school. The vaccine is 97% effective among fully inoculated individuals.
Call 311 to find a location near you where the MMR vaccine is available. Contact your physician if you or a loved one exhibits symptoms of measles infection.
