Health officials on Long Island confirmed an unvaccinated child has become Nassau County’s first case of measles in two years, while New York City confirmed its fifth case of the year as well.
The Nassau County Health Department said it was investigating after the first case of measles since 2024 was discovered in the county. To protect the family’s privacy, the department did not state where the 5-year-old child lives.
Officials only said the child had not been vaccinated, and does not attend school or daycare.
“Any case of measles is concerning because, of course, it’s one of the most infectious diseases that exists,” said Dr. Andrew Handel, of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
In Manhattan, the city’s Health Department confirmed an adult case of measles, the fifth case in the five boroughs in 2026. While not much information was shared regarding the infected individual, the Health Department said the person was also unvaccinated, and that each of the five cases this year have been related to international travel.
The Health Department was working with businesses to identify anyone who may have been exposed to the illness.
Norma Gastronomia Siciliana, a popular midtown Manhattan restaurant, posted an Instagram story stating that someone who tested positive for measles had visited their Hell’s Kitchen restaurant on April 25 between 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant said there may have been a possible exposure at that time, though there was “no known ongoing risk at the restaurant.”
Health officials said that due to the international nature of NYC, measles cases are not uncommon in the city. There were 20 confirmed cases in the city in 2025, though officials said most sporadic cases don’t lead to more cases or outbreaks in NYC due to high vaccine coverage.
Measles was declared eliminated in 2000, but cases have been on the rise in recent years due primarily to vaccine hesitancy, according to doctors. It can be spread through air droplets, sneezing or coughing, and remains in the air.
Dr. Handel said measles can linger in the air for “up to two hours” after the infected person leaves.
Measles symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes and a distinctive rash. Symptoms generally start showing around 10-12 days after exposure.
“It’s a very distinct rash that starts on the face and works its way down the body,” said Dr. Handel. “But the challenge of that is that the rash helps us make the diagnosis — but children are contagious for four days before the rash starts.”
Doctors say anyone with two shots of the MMR vaccine should be protects, and recommend adults consult with their doctors to make sure their vaccines are up to date.