LOWVILLE, New York (WWNY) – All 11 confirmed measles cases in Lewis County are in one town, according to the county’s public health department.
“All of the cases that we know about are in the town of Lowville right now,” said Ashley Waite, Lewis County public health director.
Waite said there are both children and adults affected, some of whom are related to each other. All are unvaccinated, and none of the children attend public schools.
Health director responds to Hochul’s order
On Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state disaster emergency over the growing number of measles cases across rural areas of New York.
Waite said the declaration will help slow the spread, as it will help health officials identify cases faster and provide more vaccines.
“When the governor declares a state of emergency, it’s opening up more resources for both the state health departments and the local health departments,” Waite said.
According to state data, there are no confirmed cases in Jefferson or St. Lawrence counties.
Vaccination information
Health officials say the best way to prevent getting measles is to be vaccinated, which is 97% effective.
The CDC recommends everyone get two doses of the measles vaccine, first as a baby, and a second dose around the age of 4. Waite said if a child or adult is older than 4 and still needs the vaccine, it will still be effective to get it now.
“If somebody knows they’re not vaccinated, or wondering if they’re not vaccinated, they can reach out to their primary care provider. They can also reach out to us here at Lewis County Public Health and we can try to track down their immunization records, or we can offer the vaccine for them,” Waite said.
She said as long as someone is vaccinated, they should not worry.
“There’s little risk to the general public. The majority of our population is vaccinated,” Waite said.
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