A long island baby tested positive for measles as health officials issued an ominous warning Wednesday that at least 12 people could have been exposed to the virus.
Children under the age of one were treated at Cohen Pediatric Medical Center in New Hyde Park in early March. Now, the state health department fears that the facility could “be exposed to measles by the public.”
As of Wednesday afternoon, 12 Long Island residents in Cohen could have been potentially exposed. News12 reported.
“We are actively working with public health officials under established exposure protocols to ensure that no further cases arise from this incident,” said a spokesman for Cohen's Children's Medical Center.
The state DOH recommended that anyone who visited Cohen's pediatric emergency department between March 3 and 4, and anyone who saw an inpatient child in the three units of the hospital's medication from March 3 to 6 should also be at risk of exposure.
Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Piggott said that young children were not eligible for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine due to their early years.
He added that the county's high vaccination rates will help prevent potential spread.
Toddlers recovering at home are thought to develop measles while traveling. This is the first case of measles outside of New York City so far in 2025. Two other cases were reported in the city in late February.
