The outbreak remains centered in Northern Manhattan, where at least five hospitalizations have occurred as a result. The cases range in age from 3 months to 63 years, with 12 of the patients children and the other 14 adults.
One of the cases is not related to the outbreak and was linked to travel overseas, health officials said.
Deputy Health Commissioner Dr. Jay Varma tells the New York Times that investigators are looking into whether some patients were exposed to the virus in hospitals or doctors' offices.
Varma said there were measles patients who were not quarantined as quickly as they should have been.
He did not identify any medical facilities that may have been at fault.
The Times said NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center alerted staffers by email last month that hundreds of patients could have been exposed to measles.
The hospital said it's contacting the patients as a precaution.
New Yorkers are urged to make sure all household members, including young children, are vaccinated. To date, there have been four hospitalizations as a result of this outbreak.
The outbreak impacts the following zip codes: 10034, 10040, 10033, 10032, 10451, and 10453, which include northern Manhattan and the Melrose and Morris Heights sections of the Bronx.
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection characterized by a generalized rash and high fever, accompanied by cough, red eyes, and runny nose, lasting five to six days. The illness typically begins with a rash on the face and then moves down the body, and may include the palms of the hands and soles of the feet.
People who contract the measles virus can spread the infection for four days before developing a rash and for four days after the rash sets in. Measles can spread easily through the air to unprotected individuals. If you suspect you have measles, call and explain your symptoms to your doctor or medical provider before leaving to avoid exposing others to the measles virus.
The Department of Health is working with New York City hospitals to prevent additional exposure to the virus in emergency departments. The health department is also asking pediatric-care facilities in Manhattan and the Bronx to identify and vaccinate children who have not received the MMR vaccine and to give the second dose of MMR vaccine to children at the next medical visit.
Adults who are unsure of their vaccination history can be revaccinated or obtain a blood test to see if they are immune. Several adults who are included in this outbreak thought they had been vaccinated in the past, but lacked documentation.
As many as one in three people with measles develop complications. These complications from measles can be very serious and include pneumonia, miscarriage, brain inflammation, hospitalization and even death. Infants under 1 year of age, people who have a weakened immune system and non-immune pregnant women are at highest risk of severe illness and complications.
Protect Yourself and Your Family from Measles:
For more information on measles, visit NYC.gov
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
