NEW YORK CITY — Health officials are monitoring an increase in measles cases across the New York metropolitan area as families prepare for the new school year.
Officials are urging families to make sure children are appropriately vaccinated as schools prepare to reopen.
Health Officials Watch Back-to-School Season
Measles is highly contagious, making schools particularly important environments for disease prevention.
Children who are not vaccinated can face increased exposure when they return to classrooms.
Health officials are therefore using the final weeks of summer to encourage families to review vaccination records.
The concern comes as public-health departments continue monitoring measles activity in the region.
Health authorities are also dealing with other mosquito-borne illnesses, including West Nile virus.
The combination of seasonal health concerns creates additional work for local health departments.
Schools also play an important role in public-health communication.
Administrators can provide families with information about vaccination requirements and symptoms of infectious diseases.
Parents are being encouraged to contact healthcare providers if they are uncertain about their child's vaccination status.
Measles can spread quickly because infected people can transmit the virus before symptoms are fully recognized.
The disease can cause fever, cough and a characteristic rash.
In severe cases, complications can occur.
Public-health officials therefore emphasize prevention rather than waiting for outbreaks to grow.
New York has extensive experience managing infectious-disease risks because of its large and densely populated communities.
The back-to-school period can increase interactions among children from different neighborhoods.
That makes vaccination and early detection especially important.
Officials will continue monitoring cases as students return to classrooms.
For families, checking vaccination records before school begins is one practical step that can help reduce the risk of transmission.
