BROOME COUNTY, N.Y. (WBNG) — The Broome County Health Department (BCHD) announced Tuesday night that a patient treated at a local hospital has tested positive for measles.
The individual is not a county resident and has since been discharged.
Health officials and the New York State Department of Health completed contact tracing, notified affected individuals and provided necessary protective treatments for anyone exposed at the facility.
“The Broome County Health Department team did an excellent job working with the hospital system, notifying residents and getting care to help reduce spread in our community,” said Olivia Catalano, Director of Public Health.
Because the patient lives outside the area, Broome County’s official resident case count remains at zero, with the confirmed infection linked to the patient’s home county.
“Thanks to the clear communication from our positive individual and a prompt response from our local hospital staff, risk to the general public remains low,” said Dr. Lazarus Gehring, Medical Director. “This is what we prepare for and part of the work we do every day to keep our residents safe.”
Public health professionals stress that vaccination is still the strongest protection against the virus.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine offer 97% protection, and uninsured or underinsured county residents can contact the local health department to find immunization options, according to the BCHD.
Those experiencing symptoms should isolate at home and contact a healthcare provider before seeking in-person care.
Patients visiting an urgent care center or emergency room should call ahead or tell medical staff immediately upon arrival so that appropriate isolation protocols can be followed.
To see confirmed measles cases in New York, visit NYSDOH’s measles dashboard at health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/measles/data.htm. Data is updated weekly.
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