Emergency Measles Order Renewed In Suburban NY County

NEW CITY, N.Y. (AP) — The county executive of suburban Rockland County, New York is renewing his 30-day state of emergency to combat the measles outbreak that has sickened 200 people in the county since October.

County Executive Ed Day's original state of emergency issued March 26 was set to expire Thursday. The move to renew it is largely symbolic and carries no new restrictions.

The first order barred unvaccinated children from schools and other public places. It was struck down by a judge. County health officials then imposed a more limited order affecting measles-exposed people in certain ZIP codes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that 695 measles cases had been reported this year nationwide. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Rockland County and in Brooklyn account for the majority of those cases.

Also on Thursday, Suffolk County officials on Long Island confirmed one case of measles in an adult who arrived recently from outside of the country. Officials say the case does not appear to be related to any of the current cases in New York state.