ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — State health officials warned about potential measles exposure in two Capital Region hospitals after an infected Vermonter sought treatment. This local alert came as the U.S. faces its largest measles outbreak in a quarter-century as debate wears on over the federal response.
On Friday, the New York State Department of Health announced potential exposures at Albany Medical Center and Saratoga Hospital. An adult from Vermont who recently traveled internationally visited the emergency departments at both facilities before doctors diagnosed the highly contagious disease.
"The patient arrived masked and was immediately isolated at the hospital," said Dr. Jason Mouzakes, Executive Vice President and Hospital General Director at Albany Medical Center, adding that DOH was notified.
PSC cancels New York power line project for offshore wind energyIf exposed, quarantine for three weeks. If you test positive, you are supposed to self-isolate until four days after a rash appears.
"Measles remains a threat to public health, and exposure during travel is something we need to consider," said DOH Commissioner Dr. James McDonald. He urged New Yorkers to get the measles, mumps, and rubella, or MMR, vaccine.
The U.S. has seen 1,288 measles cases across 38 states this year, marking the highest total since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000. Thirteen percent of measles cases, or 164 people, required hospitalization. Out of all the cases across the country, three were fatal—two deaths were unvaccinated children, and the third was an adult. About 92% occurred among the unvaccinated.
Comptroller: Gaps persist despite high spending on homelessness in New YorkIn New York, 14 measles cases have been diagnosed in 2025, with seven in New York City, four in Orange County, one in Suffolk County, one in Ontario County, and one in Putnam County. DOH said that all but one of the cases upstate were kids under 5. Although most cases in the U.S. have been in Texas and New Mexico, hundreds more have been reported from Canada's Ontario Province bordering New York.
People who are pregnant or immunocompromised should consult their doctor about the MMR vaccine and might not be good candidates. Still, according to McDonald, "The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to ensure they have had two doses of the [MMR] vaccine."
NY poll: More see economic decline than recoveryOne dose is supposed to offer about 93% protection against measles, while two doses are supposed to offer 97% protection. That does not mean that the vaccine gives you a 3% chance of contracting measles. It means that, among people who are vaccinated, 97% fewer would contract the disease after contact with the virus. (Two doses of the MMR vaccine also offers about 86% protection versus mumps and 97% against rubella.)
A virus spreads measles—a respiratory disease causing a rash, with symptoms including high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes, and possible complications of diarrhea or pneumonia—when an infected person coughs or sneezes into the air or contaminates a surface. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours, and symptoms can appear anywhere from one to three weeks.
NY AG, lawmakers push to unmask ICEThe rash usually develops three to five days after initial symptoms, starting as flat red spots on the face at the hairline that spread down the body. The spots may join together, and small, raised bumps can also appear.
Besides rest and drinking water, there is no treatment for measles—just supportive care. But patients can take acetaminophen or ibuprofen for fever. Short of death, complications can include miscarriage, brain swelling, and a rare but severe long-term disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which causes brain damage.
WATCH: Nadler, Duffy clash on congestion pricingChildren usually get their first MMR shot somewhere between 1 year and 15 months old and a second dose between 4 and 6 years old, though they can get that second dose as soon as one month after the first. Babies as young as 6 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally. In such examples, those babies would still need two more doses after their first birthday, totaling three vaccines.
Someone lacking immunity can get the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure to measles for some limited protection or a potentially milder experience with the illness. Doctors could also administer the medicine immunoglobulin—which has measles virus antibodies—within six days of exposure to potentially soften the effects.
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On July 15, U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer of New York published a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He told Kennedy to declare a public health emergency for measles. His letter—available to read at the bottom of this story—accused Kennedy of undermining the effectiveness of vaccines, cutting public health funding, and firing infectious disease scientists, which he blamed for the current situation.
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Schumer criticized Kennedy for calling deaths from measles "not unusual." He also took issue with Kennedy promoting vitamin A instead of vaccination and spreading "debunked conspiracy theories" about autism even after admitting that the MMR vaccine can prevent measles.
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DOH issued a travel advisory on April 2, warning New Yorkers to get fully vaccinated before traveling internationally or to other areas of the country where there are outbreaks. As of January 1, the department had tallied the following vaccination rates by county:
CountyMMR vaccination rateAlbany83.2%Allegany79.2%Broome86.8%Cattaraugus74%Cayuga87.4%Chautauqua83.7%Chemung81.5%Chenango86.6%Clinton82.1%Columbia82.2%Cortland85%Delaware84.8%Dutchess83.1%Erie87.2%Essex77.9%Franklin77.1%Fulton82.1%Genesee87.6%Greene83%Hamilton68.2%Herkimer80.1%Jefferson57.1%Lewis78.5%Livingston86.2%Madison86.2%Monroe87.4%Montgomery65.9%Nassau82%Niagara89.3%Oneida82%Onondaga89.2%Ontario85.2%Orange64.9%Orleans86.8%Oswego87.8%Otsego80.1%Putnam86.6%Rensselaer86.9%Rockland62%Saratoga83.9%Schenectady79.9%Schoharie79.8%Schuyler79.2%Seneca88.2%St. Lawrence76.2%Steuben81.2%Suffolk82.6%Sullivan67.8%Tioga82.3%Tompkins85.1%Ulster83.1%Warren86.8%Washington84.8%Wayne82.8%Westchester83.7%Wyoming87.8%Yates55.8%Statewide81.2% New York updates high school graduation requirementsOrange County, with four measles cases this year, had a vaccination rate of 64.9%. The only lower rates persist in Yates (55.8%), Jefferson (57.1%), and Rockland (62%) Counties.
MMR coverage among kindergarteners below 95% falls short of the targets needed to achieve herd immunity. According to the Associated Press, measles outbreaks in Illinois and North Dakota ended as of Friday.
Hochul warns of ‘draconian cuts’ to New York’s bottom line with OBBBATake a look at Schumer's letter to Kennedy below:
letter_to_hhs_measles_outbreakDownload- Speaker Johnson says House won't vote on Epstein resolution before recess
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