New York State Department of Health Confirms Three Additional Measles Cases in New York State Outside of New York City

Cases Related to International Travel, No Connection to Other Outbreaks in the United States

State Health Department Working with Orange County Health Department and Local Partners to Closely Monitor and Investigate Cases

All New Yorkers Urged to Ensure They're Current with All Recommended Immunizations, Especially Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR)

Get the Facts About Measles Here

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 8, 2025) – The New York State Department of Health today announced three additional measles cases have been confirmed in New York State. These cases make seven in the state this year, amid a global and domestic increase in measles cases. The cases were identified in patients less than 5 years of age who recently traveled internationally and reside in Orange County. Testing has been confirmed at the Department's Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany.

The State Health Department is closely monitoring these cases, in coordination with Orange County Health Department and area health care providers — and have notified the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All New Yorkers are urged to protect themselves by making sure they're up to date on their measles, mumps and rubella vaccines along with other important, lifesaving immunizations and be aware of health advisories when traveling with unvaccinated individuals, especially young children.

"Our epidemiology and vaccine experts at the State Health Department and the State's Wadsworth Lab are working in collaboration with the health officials of Orange County and the surrounding areas to monitor and investigate any cases or potential exposures," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. "There is no specific treatment for measles, and it is easily preventable. The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to ensure they have had 2 doses of the measles mumps and rubella vaccine."

No additional exposures outside of immediate family members are known to have occurred at this time.

Measles is a highly contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. In some cases, measles can reduce the immune system's ability to fight other infections like pneumonia.

The best protection against measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Those traveling should plan to be fully vaccinated against measles at least two weeks before departure. One dose provides 93 percent protection while two doses provide 97 percent protection.

Those who are unsure of their vaccination status should locate their vaccination records and consult their health care provider.

Babies as young as 6 months should get one dose of the MMR vaccine if they are traveling abroad. After travel, these babies should then continue to get their next two MMR vaccines on schedule for a total of three vaccines.

The Department issued a travel advisory on April 2, available to all health care providers, that includes specific MMR vaccine schedules based on the age of the traveler. Anyone who is not protected can get measles while traveling and can easily spread it to others when they return home.

Measles is caused by a virus that is spread by coughing or sneezing into the air. Individuals can catch the disease by breathing in the virus or by touching a contaminated surface, then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth.

Serious complications of measles include hospitalization, pneumonia, miscarriage, preterm birth, brain swelling and death. Long-term serious complications can also include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a brain disease resulting from an earlier measles infection that can lead to permanent brain damage.

A person with measles can pass it to others as soon as four days before a rash appears and as late as four days after the rash appears.

The incubation period for measles is up to 21 days. People who are exposed to measles should quarantine for 21 days after exposure and those who test positive should isolate until four days after the rash appears.

Symptoms for measles can include the following:

7-14 days, and up to 21 days after a measles infection

  • High fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose
  • Red, watery eyes

3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash occurs

  • The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
  • Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
  • The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
  • When the rash appears, a person's fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.

Those who aren't sure about their immunization status should call their local health department or health care provider. Those who were born before 1957 have likely already been exposed to the virus and are immune. Those who received the vaccine between 1963 and 1967 should talk to their health care provider about getting revaccinated. The Department's travel advisory urging New Yorkers to ensure they are fully vaccinated against measles before international travel or travel to an area in the U.S. experiencing an outbreak, can be found here.

Health care providers should report suspected measles cases to their local health department.

Visit the Department's dedicated measles website here for information about the measles, immunization data, and information for providers.

More information about the measles vaccine can be found here.