GOSHEN – There is a potential
for measles exposure at a Monroe medical facility as a result of an infected
traveler visiting Orange County on April 29.
The county Health Department said that residents who were at the medical
office of Dr. Vladimir Zeleno at 745 Route 17M between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
or in the lobby or communal areas of the first and second floor or at
BioReference Laboratory in the building between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. on that
day may have been exposed to measles.
Measles is a very contagious respiratory, viral illness, spread by contact
with nasal or throat secretions of infected persons. The illness starts
with symptoms like cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis, then fever and
skin rash.
The rash can appear seven to 21 days after a person is exposed.
A person can spread measles and be contagious from four days before rash
onset through four days after the rash appears.
The rash spreads from the head to the trunk to the lower extremities.
Measles is dangerous for young children especially those who have not
received two doses of Measles, Mumps, Rubella vaccine. Two doses of MMR
vaccine protects 97 percent of vaccinated individuals.
There is no specific treatment against measles.
The county health department advised not to go to a hospital emergency
room, urgent care facility or doctor’s office without first calling
to avoid potentially exposing other people.
