Health officials warn of potential measles exposure at Roslyn Heights restaurant
A laboratory verified a measles case in a New York City resident, who potentially exposed the highly contagious disease to patrons who visited the 388 Italian Restaurant in Roslyn Heights on May 3.
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The Nassau County Health Department has warned of a potential measles exposure at a Roslyn Heights restaurant.
A laboratory verified a measles case in a New York City resident who potentially exposed the highly contagious disease to patrons who visited the 388 Italian Restaurant in Roslyn Heights on May 3 between 7:15 and 10 p.m., according to the Health Department.
The timeframe represents the potential exposure period when the infected person was in the eatery.
The department advises that people who may have been exposed or have symptoms consistent with measles contact their health care provider, local clinic or emergency department before going for care to prevent exposure. It also recommends people get vaccinated to prevent measles.
Individuals are generally considered protected against measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of MMR vaccine, have previously had measles, or have a lab test confirming immunity., according to the Health Department.
More information about measles can be found on the DOH's website.
“I do think there's a cause to be concerned,” said pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Gallub. “I don't think it's time to panic.”
Dr. Gallub says the disease is highly contagious. It’s transmitted through the air and stays airborne up to two hours after a person leaves the area.
“We rely on our vaccination of eligible patients to keep the transmission at a minimum…” Gallub said. “We need to improve the rates of our immunizations of our children and our community to protect vulnerable parts of our population.”
Gallub says there has been some vaccine hesitancy since COVID. She encourages people to monitor for symptoms including cough, runny nose, high fever, pink eye or rash.
The restaurant released the following statement:
"388 Restaurant was recently notified that a guest who dined with us on Sunday, May 3rd subsequently reported a case of measles to the CDC. We take the health and well-being of our guests and our team with the utmost seriousness, and we want to be fully transparent with our community.
"Measles spreads through airborne respiratory droplets, not through food or dining, and public health authorities confirm that the measles virus is no longer viable in an indoor environment within two hours of exposure. 388 conducts a thorough, professional deep clean of our entire restaurant every evening after our last guests depart. This means any potential environmental exposure from the evening of May 3rd was fully addressed before we opened our doors the following morning, well within established public health guidelines.
"We are pleased to report that no additional cases have been linked to 388, and we have been in proactive contact with Nassau County health authorities, with whom we are cooperating fully. We encourage any guest with personal health concerns to consult their physician or contact the Nassau County Department of Health. 388 remains committed to the highest standards of hospitality, cleanliness, and the safety of everyone who walks through our doors."
