STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The New York State Department of Health is warning people in the New York City area that an Australian tourist who visited several attractions and venues from Feb. 16 to 21 was confirmed to have measles.

The tourist, who visited several hotels in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, may have potentially exposed measles to others.

The risk of developing measles in very low, especially for people who have been immunized.

Here is the tourist's travel route, according to the state Department of Health:

La Quinta Inn, 31 W. 71st St., New York, N.Y., between Feb. 16 and the morning of Feb. 19, 2018.

Oasis Bible Tours at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave., New York, N.Y., the morning of February 16, and the evening of Feb. 17, 2018.

Watchtower Educational Center, 100 Watchtower Drive, Patterson, N.Y., between 12:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 19, 2018.

Best Western Hotel, 1324 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, N.Y., from Feb. 19 until 12:00 p.m. on February 20, 2018.

Comfort Inn & Suites Goshen - Middletown, 20 Hatfield Lane, Goshen, NY, from 4:30 p.m. on February 20 until 10:30 a.m. on February 21, 2018.

Excel Urgent Care, 1 Hatfield Lane, Goshen, N.Y., between 8:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. on February 21, 2018.

Orange Regional Medical Center, Emergency Department, 707 E. Main Street, Middletown, N.Y., between 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2018.

These times reflect the period the infected individual was in the areas and a two-hour period after the individual left the area, because the virus remains alive in air and on surfaces for up to two hours.

Individuals lacking immunity or who aren't sure if they were vaccinated, should contact their health care provider if they develop measles symptoms.

Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose. Symptoms usually appear in 10 to 12 days after exposure.

To prevent the spread of illness, the department is advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic or a local emergency department before going for care. This will help prevent others at these facilities from being exposed to the illness.



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 have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes -- followed by appearance of the rash.

BEST PREVENTION

The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. Individuals should receive two doses of MMR vaccine to be protected. If a person is unsure if they are immune they should contact their healthcare provider.

Typically, the first dose should be given at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose should be given at four to six years of age (age of school entry), although individuals may also be vaccinated later in life. In New York State, measles immunization is required of children enrolled in schools, daycare, and pre-kindergarten. Since August 1990, college students have also been required to demonstrate immunity against measles.



The state Department of Health will issue a health advisory to health care providers in the metropolitan New York City region to notify them of the potential exposure. Health care providers should report all suspected cases of measles to their local health department.