Measles Exposure At Auction Mart In Monsey

NEW CITY, NY — Anyone who visited the Auction Mart in the Town Square Mall on Route 59 at midday on July 5 was exposed to the measles, Rockland health officials warn.

The exposure period at the appliance store is from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The contagious person was there between 11 and 11:30 a.m. Because measles is one of the most contagious viruses on earth — 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus become infected) — you can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person is gone.

If you were present at this location during these times, especially if you are in any of the following high-risk groups, contact your health care provider by phone right away (call before going for care):

• Pregnant
• A child under 6 months of age
• Immunocompromised or immunosuppressed (when your body can't fight disease)
• Have not been vaccinated against the measles
• Were born before 1957 and are immunosuppressed

As of July 11, there are 280 confirmed reported cases of measles in the county since the outbreak began in October 2018. So County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert reminds residents again of the importance of getting vaccinated.

"Being up-to-date with your measles vaccination is the best way to help protect yourself, your family, and the community, especially those who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions," said Dr. Ruppert.

Since the outbreak began, the Health Department together with partners such as Refuah Health Center and private pediatricians and family doctors have administered over 24,186 doses of MMR vaccine.

Free MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccines are also available at the Rockland County Department of Health, Building A, second floor clinic area, located at 50 Sanatorium Road in Pomona at the following dates and times. No appointments are needed.

• Mondays; July 15, July 22, and July 29 from 2 pm - 4 pm
• Tuesdays; July 16, July 23, and July 30 from 2 pm - 4 pm
• Wednesdays; July 17, July 24, and July 31 from 9 - 11:30 am
• Thursdays; July 18, and July 25 from 9 am - 11:30 am
• Fridays; July 19, and July 26 from 9 am - 11:30 am

For an evening appointment: Call 845-364-2534 Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm

Measles has become a problem nationwide. As of July 3, 1,109 individual cases of measles had been confirmed in 28 states in 2019. This is is the biggest outbreak reported in the U.S. since 1992 and since measles was declared eliminated in 2000, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Most of the confirmed cases have been in New York State.

Rockland's outbreak began in October; as of July 8, there have been 620 confirmed cases in New York City since September.

On average, a person infected with measles gives it to 18 people, Dr. Ruppert has said.

Due to Rockland County's small geographic size, exposure to the measles may occur anywhere in Rockland. The outbreak has been centered in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities of Monsey, New Square and Spring Valley, where vaccination rates are low.

County officials have said they know there have been far more cases in the county than have been reported.

SEE: Measles Outbreak: Reaching Hasidic Moms Afraid Of Vaccines