Patients potentially exposed to measles at Cohen Children's Medical Center

LONG ISLAND, N.Y. (PIX11) – A child was diagnosed with measles at Cohen Children's Medical Center, leading Nassau County and state officials to issue a warning to potentially prevent the spread of the virus.

The child, who was unvaccinated, has been isolated after being admitted on March 21, according to officials.

The medical center is tracking down patients who may have been exposed last week in the emergency room. The county is urging individuals who are not immunized to get vaccinated.

Northwell Health said in a statement to PIX11 News:

Cohen Children’s Medical Center, the largest Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in New York State, is working closely with state and local health officials after it was determined that a patient who presented at the emergency department was found to have measles. The patient was isolated and admitted on March 21 and is currently in stable condition. Measles is a highly infectious viral respiratory illness for the unvaccinated. We are contacting patients who visited the emergency department at the time of the potential exposure and have identified patients who are high risk and may require timely treatment.

It's the first case of measles reported outside of New York City in 2024, according to health officials. It also marks the third case of measles in New York state this year, officials said.

Those who are exposed to measles should quarantine for 21 days after the initial exposure, according to health officials. People who test positive for the virus should isolate until four days after the rash appears, officials said.

Symptoms of measles also include a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. They can happen between one to two weeks after the initial exposure, and up to 21 days after a measles infection, according to health officials.