Measles Outbreak in Western NY: Possible Exposure at Thruway Stop

The New York State Department of Health is warning that an individual with measles may have exposed others to the disease in various locations in Western NY including a Thruway rest stop.

An international traveler from Europe was confirmed to have measles and may have exposed others as they made their way around the Western part of the state.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed:

Old Country Buffet, 821 Country Route 64, Elmira, NY on April 30^th between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
Ontario Travel Plaza on NYS Thruway (I-90) in Leroy, NY on April 30^th between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Sheraton Niagara Falls, 300 3^rd Street, Niagara Falls, NY from 5:30 p.m. on April 30^th to 9:30 a.m. on May 2^nd
Niagara Falls Urgent Care, 3117 Military Road Suite 2, Niagara Falls, NY on May 1^st between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
Exit 5 on Interstate 390 in Dansville, NY, on May 2^nd between 9:30 a.m. and noon

These times reflect the period that the infected individual was in these areas and a two-hour period after the individual left the area, as the virus remains alive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

According to the Department of Health:

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles disease, or have a lab test confirming immunity. Individuals who are not immune to measles and were exposed are at risk for developing measles. The risk of developing measles is low for people who have been vaccinated or are immune.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure. Individuals should contact their health care provider if they develop measles symptoms.