MONTICELLO – Sullivan County Public Health Services was notified on Friday that a specimen sent to the state lab on Thursday came back negative for measles.
In 2000, the US declared that measles was eliminated from this country. Since then the annual number of cases in the country has increased from a low of 37 in 2004 to a high of 644 in 2014. The majority of cases have been among people who are not vaccinated against measles.
Measles is highly contagious. The measles virus lives in the mucus in the nose and throat of infected people. When they sneeze, cough or talk, droplets spray into the air and the droplets remain active and contagious on infected surfaces for up to two hours.
The best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Most people in New York have been vaccinated, but if unsure, should check with their doctor. Individuals should receive two doses of vaccine to be protected.
Sullivan County Public Health offers immunization clinics the first Wednesday of every month from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. or by appointment at the Shared Clinic Facility at 50 Community Lane in Liberty.
