Buffalo measles exposure alert centers on hospital emergency department
Buffalo, NY — Erie County confirmed a measles case and named the Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Emergency Department in its exposure alert.
Buffalo exposure alert centers on a hospital emergency department
Erie County health officials confirmed a measles case in a resident on June 4 and said the person had recently traveled internationally. For Buffalo readers, the immediate issue is the county’s exposure notice and the specific places and times it listed.
Where Buffalo readers may have been exposed
The county named Golisano Children’s Hospital of Buffalo Emergency Department, 818 Ellicott Street, as an exposure site on May 24 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. It also listed the same emergency department on May 28 from noon to 9:30 p.m., along with 1021 Broadway in Buffalo on May 28 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The county said those windows include the time the infected person was there plus two hours after departure because measles can remain in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.
What exposed people should do now
Erie County says people who may have been exposed should check whether they are immune, especially if they are unsure about their vaccination history. The county says the MMR vaccine can help if given within 72 hours of exposure, and immune globulin can help within six days, but that window has already passed for the exposures in this alert. If you think you may have been exposed and later develop symptoms, call a health care provider before going to a clinic or emergency department so staff can make arrangements and reduce the chance of spreading illness to others.
Symptoms to watch for
Measles usually starts 10 to 12 days after exposure, though symptoms can appear as early as seven days and as late as 21 days after exposure. Early signs include fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by a rash. Erie County also says people with measles can spread it from four days before the rash starts through four days after, which is why residents should stay home and avoid others if symptoms begin.
Why this matters locally
This is not a citywide outbreak declaration, but it is a time-sensitive public-health alert for anyone who was at the listed Buffalo locations during the official windows. Parents, caregivers, health care workers, and commuters who used those sites should review vaccination records, watch for symptoms through the county’s 21-day window, and act quickly if illness develops.
