The New York State Department of Health issued a Health Advisory as measles cases and hospitalizations increase in parts of the United States, including Texas and New Mexico, and Canada. And an unvaccinated school-aged child in Texas died from measles, the first reported U.S. death from measles since 2015. As part of a broader campaign to reach low-vaccination areas, the Department also released a public service announcement reminding New Yorkers to vaccinate their children to protect them from measles.
Vaccination rates statewide continue to fall below the level that is necessary to protect communities. Two cases have been reported in New York City in 2025 to date, while there are currently no cases in the rest of New York State. In 2024, New York State had 15 cases, with 14 of those cases in New York City.
“As a pediatrician and the State’s doctor, I want to remind everyone that immunization is safe and the best protection for your children against measles and other potentially deadly diseases,” State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said. “ Measles is a very contagious, serious respiratory disease that causes rash and fever. In some cases, measles can reduce the immune system’s ability to fight other infections like pneumonia. I encourage anyone not vaccinated against measles to receive at least one dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and get their children vaccinated with two doses.”
Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease. Measles can spread by a person coughing or sneezing into the air. An individual can catch the disease by breathing in the virus or touching an infected surface and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth. A person can get measles just by entering a room that an infected person visited up to two hours before. Up to 90 percent of people who are not immune to measles because they are not vaccinated, or the vaccine was not effective will get measles when they are exposed.
Seven to 14 days and up to 21 days after a measles infection, symptoms usually include high fever that may spike to more than 104°, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash occurs. The rash starts as flat red spots on the face at the hairline and spreads to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. Small, raised bumps may also appear on the flat red spots. The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body. A fever may spike to over 104° Fahrenheit after the rash appears.
Serious complications of measles include hospitalization, pneumonia, brain swelling and death. Long-term serious complications can also include subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, a brain disease resulting from an earlier measles infection that can lead to permanent brain damage. Measles during pregnancy increases the risk of early labor, miscarriage, and low birth weight infants.
Getting the measles vaccine is the best way to prevent measles. Children should get their first Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine at 12 through 15 months old. The second dose can be given as early as one month after the first dose but is usually given between ages 4 years and 6 years. Two doses of MMR vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing measles.
Coverage of 95 percent or greater of two doses of measles-containing vaccine is needed to create herd immunity to protect communities. Current MMR vaccination rates among two year olds have fallen far below herd immunity levels in all counties in New York State.
An early dose of the MMR vaccine is recommended for children six to 11 months of age traveling internationally or in an outbreak setting.
More information about measles can be found here.
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