Measles Outbreak Now Impacting Hudson Valley Schools

The Hudson Valley measles outbreak is now impacting a number of local schools, health officials warn.

On Monday, the Orange County Department of Health confirmed there are now five confirmed cases of measles in Orange County.

Two of these cases have been laboratory confirmed in children who attend school in Orange County, officials say.

The Orange County Health Department is working closely with the affected schools. The names of the schools weren't released.

Unvaccinated and under-vaccinated persons have been told to stay home from school because measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people, according to the Orange County Department of Health.

In October, it was reported an international traveler with measles visited multiple locations in Rockland and Westchester counties. Among the locations infected with measles was the Costco in Nanuet and Westchester Medical Center.

The Rockland County measles outbreak spread into Orange County in November. Health officials in Orange County later warned that a taxi was exposed to measles.

Around Thanksgiving, shoppers at the Palisades Mall were potentially exposed to measles.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then often a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by an appearance of a rash. People are considered infectious four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or a runny nose. Symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure but may appear as early as 7 days and as late as 21 days after exposure.