Measles outbreak NYC: What you need to know about the highly contagious disease

At least six children in Brooklyn have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease

Health officials have issued warnings over a measles outbreak across New York state with at least 17 cases reported.

Six children in Brooklyn have been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease. NBC New York reports that some of the infected most likely picked up measles during travel to Israel.

There were also 11 cases reported in Rockland County in upstate New York.

Earlier this year, a widespread outbreak of measles infected 21 states and the District of Columbia. The US has been functionally free of measles since 2000, but it’s still possible for an unvaccinated person to bring the disease home from another country.

Five of the New York children were unvaccinated, NBC reported. Four of those children were too young to receive the vaccine, and one had only received the first of two shots of the MMR vaccine.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, rash, runny nose, and watery eyes, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Measles sometimes develop into more serious conditions like ear infections and diarrhoea. CDC reports that one out of 20 children who contracts measles will get pneumonia, some of whom die from the disease. About one in 1,000 children will develop encephalitis, or brain swelling. Sometimes, a swollen brain can leave a patient brain-damaged or deaf.

What treatment is available?

The best treatment is preventative. The MMR vaccine protects from measles, mumps and rubella.

After exposure, there is no formal medical cure for measles, but the symptoms can be treated while the infection subsides. Not all treatments are ideal for all patients, so it’s important to consult a doctor as soon as possible for a prescription.

Mayo Clinic reports a post-exposure vaccine can sometimes prevent measles from developing if received within 72 hours of infection. If not, it can usually reduce symptoms. Immune serum globulin is also advised for people with weakened immune systems. Fever reducers, antibiotics and Vitamin A can also minimise symptoms.

Why is this happening now?

The New York City Health Department said that one child had just returned from Israel, where there is currently a large measles outbreak. At least 623 Israelis have contracted measles in 2018, according to Israel’s Ministry of Health. Measles is most contagious before symptoms even start to develop, so it’s likely that the first child brought it to Rockland county and Brooklyn.

Measles is so contagious that an unvaccinated person can become infected even if they’re in the same room as someone with measles.