NewYork-Presbyterian Infectious Disease Expert Talks Measles Outbreak and Prevention in Exclusive Briefing
The ongoing measles outbreak in the United States, particularly in New York, is raising concerns among parents in the city. New York Family was recently invited to a briefing on the current state of measles by Dr. Roy Gulick, the Chief of Infectious Diseases at New York-Presbyterian and Weill Cornell Medicine.
We learned a lot. Here are some of the highlights.
- Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that continues to be a global concern, with the World Health Organization estimating 10 million cases and over 100,000 deaths annually, mainly in unvaccinated children in Africa and Asia.
- Although measles was eradicated in the United States in 2000 and in the rest of the Western Hemisphere by 2016, imported cases still occur, typically linked to unvaccinated travelers or foreign visitors.
- Outbreaks are still common, with recent cases in New York, New Jersey, Texas, New Mexico, Ontario, and Quebec.
- The disease spreads through airborne droplets, and over 90 percent of people exposed to the virus who are not immune will contract it.
- Measles symptoms include fever, fatigue, cough, and a characteristic rash, with complications such as pneumonia and brain inflammation being serious risks.
- Prevention of measles is critical since there is no specific antiviral treatment, and symptoms are managed with supportive care.
- Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing the disease, with the measles vaccine offering 90 percent immunity after one dose and 97 percent immunity after two doses.
- The vaccine, introduced in the 1960s, has been proven to be safe and effective, saving over 90 million lives globally. Despite its success, vaccination rates have been declining, with about 91 percent of U.S. children vaccinated.
- Current recommendations include administering the first dose between 12-15 months and the second between 4-6 years of age. Ensuring widespread vaccination remains the cornerstone of the fight against measles.
Dr. Gulick responded to a range of questions, including one about the number of measles cases in the New York area this year.
How many measles cases have we seen in the New York area this year?
So far, in 2025, there have been two measles cases reported in New York, both in New York City. They were unrelated to one another, and both patients have recovered. In New Jersey, there have been three reported cases this year. The initial case was an unvaccinated American who traveled abroad returned acquiring measles, and then spread it to two other unvaccinated people in New Jersey, and, as I understand it, all three of them have recovered as well.
Scroll down to the end to find out what keeps Dr. Gulick up at night as an infectious disease doctor.
How does the current outbreak compare to the 2019 measles outbreak in New York City?
So 2019, we had a major measles outbreak in New York City with over 600 reported cases. The initial case was an unvaccinated traveler, who returned and then spread it in a community where vaccination rates were low. The number of cases in that outbreak was quite severe. So the case, the outbreaks that we’re following this year in Texas are over about 150 cases so similar, not quite comparable to what happened in 2019.
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What is the current vaccination rate both in New York City and nationally?
In New York City about 97% of children who enter kindergarten have been vaccinated, so fairly high rates are lower across the country, and unfortunately, over the last couple of years have been falling.
Are there side effects associated with getting the vaccine?
In most vaccines, side effects are limited to local reactions. So pain at the injection site, or some can have fever or feeling unwell. Typically these only last a day or two. There are no long-term complications associated with measles vaccinations.
Are there home remedies or alternative treatments for measles? For example, can vitamin A replace vaccination?
Vitamin A cannot replace vaccination. Vitamin A neither treats, measles, nor prevents measles. Why people are talking about vitamin A is that studies in developing countries showed that kids predominantly with malnutrition. Some had vitamin A deficiency, and so it was seen that if you gave Vitamin A at the same time that you vaccinated people, they had better immune responses. Again, I’ll say it, vitamin A is not a treatment for measles is not a prevention for measles, and does not replace measles vaccinations.
Is a measles vaccine always given with mumps and rubella as an MMR vaccine? Or can you just get a measles vaccine on its own?
Here in the United States, it is combined with mumps and rubella, so the typical MMR vaccine is what’s available. We don’t have a separate measles vaccine in the United States. Having said that people who are immune to mumps and or rubella or even measles who receive MMR, do not experience an increase in side effects from being previously immune. So it’s safe to get MMR, even if you’re immune to one or all of the three.
As an adult, how can you confirm if you are protected? Or do you need a booster at any point as an adult?
If you were born before 1957, you’re immune, and we know that from widespread studies. More recently, people should have received two vaccinations. The way to know this is to go back and check your vaccination record or check with your provider. There is a blood test that can establish immunity, and all providers have access to that test. So if there’s any question at all, ask your doctor, and see if you can get that blood test that will definitively show if you’re immune or not to measles.
Are you seeing any anecdotal evidence of more vaccine skepticism in recent weeks?
It’s disheartening, but since COVID-19, we have seen rates of vaccinations fall off, and this is really a tragedy. Vaccines have changed human health in a major way. One disease to point to that was a scourge years ago was smallpox. That disease has been effectively eliminated from the earth, and that was because of widespread vaccinations.
We now have a host of vaccinations that can help people prevent these common illnesses. We’ve been talking about measles. We mentioned mumps and rubella. There’s tetanus, diphtheria, human papillomavirus, influenza, and then most recently the COVID vaccines. The list continues. We really can change human health if people get vaccinated against these common illnesses.
How concerned are you about a broader spread of measles, either now or in the future if we start to see vaccination rates decline?
We eradicated this infection in the United States in the year 2000, meaning that there’s no ongoing transmission in the population. Everything we’re seeing is imported right now, if vaccination rates fall below 90 to 95 percent, we could very well see increased numbers of cases from outbreaks. Could this actually begin to spread in the population again? It’s possible, but not if people are immunized, not if people are immune to measles infection… can’t stress that enough.
What are the dangers of measles parties trying to immunize unvaccinated children by interacting and coming into contact with infected people? And was this something that we saw in the 2018 to 2019 New York City outbreak?
The concept of measles parties really started as chickenpox parties, in other words, getting a bunch of children together for what’s assumed to be a harmless viral illness and getting them exposed is wrong. We should not be doing that. The reason is that statistically 30% of the children may develop complications from the viral illness. It’s much safer to vaccinate your child than to be involved in these so-called measles or chickenpox parties.
As an infectious disease doctor, what keeps you up at night?
Well, number one is the declining rate of vaccine acceptability. The fact that we’re questioning these vaccines that have saved so many lives and improved the lives of other people really does keep me up. We need to be strong advocates for vaccines. They really have changed human health, and they benefit people greatly.
The second is microbes. Organisms do not respect country borders. We need to collaborate with our international partners, the World Health Organization and other groups around the world to help us provide public health. Right here in the United States, we need the people who are providing surveillance, who are monitoring, who are working together to contain outbreaks, prevent, spread, and treat people who develop illnesses.
So both of those things really, really do keep me up at night, and then the 3rd is pandemic preparedness. Are we ready for the next pandemic? I’m concerned that over the last three months, things are changing in this country, and that a very good public health infrastructure that we have both on the local level and on the State level, as well as on the national level is being changed. I’m very concerned about that.
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