Pittsford Village Chat›Measles Exposure at Strong Memorial Hospital ER: What to Know If You Were There Sept. 7-8

3 min read59 comments·measles exposure Strong Memorial Hospital

Measles Exposure at Strong Memorial Hospital ER: What to Know If You Were There Sept. 7-8

The Short Version

Anyone in Strong Memorial Hospital's Adult and Pediatric ER between 11 p.m. Sept. 7 and 2 a.m. Sept. 8 should monitor for measles symptoms through September 28.
Nearly 100 people were potentially in the ER during that three-hour window — measles can remain airborne for two hours after an infected person leaves the space.
If fever, runny nose, cough, or light-sensitive eyes develop, call 585-753-5555 or your provider before going anywhere; do not walk into a clinic or ER without calling first.
Confirmed measles cases now exist in Steuben, Seneca, Ontario, and Yates counties; Monroe County's MMR vaccination rate for children 24–35 months stands at 87.4%.
The two-dose MMR series is 97% effective — adults unsure of their status should contact their primary care provider.

Monroe County Department of Public Health confirmed a measles exposure at Strong Memorial Hospital on Tuesday after a person who tested positive for measles visited the Adult and Pediatric Emergency Department between 11 p.m. Monday, September 7, and 2 a.m. Tuesday, September 8. If you or anyone in your family was in that ER during those hours, here is what matters now.

What Happened at Strong's Emergency Department

According to WXXI News, the infected patient was not a Monroe County resident — this is an imported case, not a locally circulating outbreak. Monroe County Department of Public Health and Strong Memorial are reviewing ED records and contacting anyone present who does not have documented immunity.

Nearly 100 people were potentially in the ER during that three-hour window. Monroe County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown explained the transmission risk plainly:

"It is such a small virus that it can hang out in the air in a space for two hours after a patient has left."

— Dr. Marielena Vélez de Brown, Monroe County Public Health Commissioner

You do not need to have been near the infected patient. Sharing a waiting room is enough.

Measles Symptoms to Watch For Through September 28

For anyone in Strong's ER on the night of September 7–8, Monroe County's health department sets the monitoring window through September 28.

Symptoms arrive in two stages. The first lasts three to five days: fever climbing to 103–105°F, runny nose, cough, and eyes that are red and sensitive to light. The rash follows — spreading from the face downward.

If any of those symptoms develop, call before going anywhere. Reach your healthcare provider or the Monroe County Department of Public Health at 585-753-5555. Do not walk into a clinic or emergency room without calling first. That call lets the facility prepare and prevents exposing other patients who may be there.

Monroe County's Vaccination Picture and What It Means

Confirmed regional cases now exist in Steuben, Seneca, Ontario, and Yates counties.

Monroe County's MMR vaccination rate for children ages 24–35 months stands at 87.4%. The two-dose series is 97% effective; a single dose reaches 93%. The school-age vaccination rate is 99.7%, but a gap remains in the broader adult population. Anyone unsure of their status should contact their primary care provider.

If you were at Strong's ER between 11 p.m. September 7 and 2 a.m. September 8, monitor through September 28 and call 585-753-5555 if symptoms appear.

Content ID: PsuDZPXJ3FLg80QlZOfJLhVa

See an error? Tell us.

59 Comments

Comment from Facebook

I thought measles was eradicated years ago

Sep 12, 2026 at 8:06 pm

Measles Exposure at Strong Memorial Hospital ER: What to Know If You Were There Sept. 7-8

What Happened at Strong's Emergency Department

Measles Symptoms to Watch For Through September 28

Monroe County's Vaccination Picture and What It Means

59 Comments

Share with the Community

Keep Reading