Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Seneca County is sounding the public health alarm after two additional measles cases were detected, bringing the total number of cases to five. There are also two presumed positive cases.
"This is an outbreak," said Scott King, the county's public health director. "This is an outbreak in our county, and I suspect beyond that here in the Finger Lakes."
King said the last exposure for any trace of measles in Seneca County was back in 2011, but the respiratory disease spreads fast.
"If you're in that contact with a contagious individual and you're unvaccinated or not immune from previous infection, there's about a 90% chance you are going to walk away with measles," he said.
King said those at the greatest risk are the elderly, infants, immunocompromised and those unvaccinated.
However, for most people in Seneca County, "the overall risk to the general public, especially for those who are fully immunized against the disease, is low," he said.
Symptoms can be a high fever, runny nose, or red, blotchy rashes. The disease can also turn deadly.
King won’t say if the outbreak is tied to a specific group or demographic, but it has spread from unvaccinated adults.
"We don't want to stigmatize any community, and we want to encourage anyone who has signs or symptoms to seek medical treatment," he said.
King said, if you have symptoms, call ahead so the urgent care or emergency department can prepare to limit the spread. The best way to not get measles is to get vaccinated via the measles, mumps and rubella shot.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/seneca-county-sounds-alarm-on-measles-cases-this-is-an-outbreak-vaccine-unvaccinated
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Seneca County is sounding the public health alarm after two additional measles cases were detected, bringing the total number of cases to five. There are also two presumed positive cases.
"This is an outbreak," said Scott King, the county's public health director. "This is an outbreak in our county, and I suspect beyond that here in the Finger Lakes."
King said the last exposure for any trace of measles in Seneca County was back in 2011, but the respiratory disease spreads fast.
"If you're in that contact with a contagious individual and you're unvaccinated or not immune from previous infection, there's about a 90% chance you are going to walk away with measles," he said.
King said those at the greatest risk are the elderly, infants, immunocompromised and those unvaccinated.
However, for most people in Seneca County, "the overall risk to the general public, especially for those who are fully immunized against the disease, is low," he said.
Symptoms can be a high fever, runny nose, or red, blotchy rashes. The disease can also turn deadly.
King won’t say if the outbreak is tied to a specific group or demographic, but it has spread from unvaccinated adults.
"We don't want to stigmatize any community, and we want to encourage anyone who has signs or symptoms to seek medical treatment," he said.
King said, if you have symptoms, call ahead so the urgent care or emergency department can prepare to limit the spread. The best way to not get measles is to get vaccinated via the measles, mumps and rubella shot.
READ MORE: 13wham.com/news/local/seneca-county-sounds-alarm-on-measles-cases-this-is-an-outbreak-vaccine-unvaccinated
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: facebook.com/13WHAM
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13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit 13wham.com
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
