Measles in New York: 3 new upstate cases bring total to 7

Three new cases of measles were confirmed in young children from Orange County, bringing the total number in the state this year to 7, officials said.

The other cases include one in Suffolk County and three in New York City, announced earlier this year.

The three children from Orange County are all under the age of 5 and had recently traveled internationally, according to the state Health Department. They do not believe anyone outside of family members was exposed to the highly contagious virus.

State health officials didn’t say whether any of the children had received a measles vaccination, but the department has advised New Yorkers to make sure they are vaccinated before traveling internationally or to a part of the United States where there is an outbreak.

"Our epidemiology and vaccine experts at the State Health Department and the State's Wadsworth Lab are working in collaboration with the health officials of Orange County and the surrounding areas to monitor and investigate any cases or potential exposures," New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said in a statement Thursday.

The number of measles cases across the United States has grown exponentially in 2025, topping 900 by May, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 700 are linked to outbreaks in Texas among primarily unvaccinated children. There have been three deaths reported nationally.

Public health experts have said vaccine hesitancy prompted by both the COVID-19 pandemic and misinformation has led some parents to forgo shots for their children. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is required for children to enter childcare and schools in all states.

"There is no specific treatment for measles, and it is easily preventable," McDonald said. "The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to ensure they have had 2 doses of the measles mumps and rubella vaccine."

The CDC recommends that infants as young as 6 months of age should get one dose of the MMR vaccine if they are traveling overseas.

Measles can be spread to others when an infected person coughs or sneezes into the air or someone touches a contaminated surface. It can cause serious illness such as pneumonia and brain swelling. Symptoms include high fever, runny nose and several days later a rash.

By Lisa L. Colangelo

lisa.colangelo@newsday.com@lisalcolangelo

Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.