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A young child from Suffolk County has come down with measles, health officials confirmed Tuesday.
It’s Long Island’s first case of the highly contagious disease in 2025 and the third case statewide, as measles cases continue to tick upward both nationally and globally. It is also the first New York case in 2025 outside of New York City, the New York State Department of Health announced.
The patient, described only as being under 5 years old and from Suffolk, is receiving treatment at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in Queens. The diagnosis was verified by state health experts at the Wadsworth Laboratory in Albany, officials said.
Anyone who visited certain areas of Cohen Children’s Medical Center during specific timeframes last week may have been exposed, according to health officials. The exposure windows include:
- The pediatric emergency department from March 3-4
- The Medicine 3 inpatient unit from March 3-6
State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald didn’t mince words about the seriousness of the situation.
“Measles can be very serious. It’s much more than just a rash,” he said. “Complications can include pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, and often results in hospitalization. The most important thing people can do to protect themselves is to ensure they’ve been properly immunized against measles and immediately get a shot if they are not.”
The case has triggered a coordinated response among Suffolk County and New York City health departments, along with Northwell Health, which operates Cohen Children’s Medical Center. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has also been notified.
Health authorities urge strongly that Long Islanders check their vaccination status and make sure they are protected against measles.
About Measles
Measles spreads easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The illness typically begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes before manifesting as a rash.
Beyond these initial symptoms, measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and in rare cases, death. Because the disease can temporarily weaken the immune system, patients become more vulnerable to other infections.
Top photo: Vials of the MMR measles mums and rubella virus vaccine are displayed in this 2025 photo. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
