Health authorities are alerting New Yorkers who dined at a Manhattan Italian eatery last month, cautioning them about potential exposure to measles after a patron was confirmed to have the highly contagious virus.
An individual without vaccination visited Norma’s Restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25, as reported by both the restaurant and CBS New York.
“An individual who later tested positive for measles visited Norma Hell’s Kitchen,” the establishment announced via social media on Tuesday. “Those present during this timeframe might have been exposed.”
The New York City Department of Health is actively addressing the measles incident through its comprehensive disease monitoring and notification system to contact and inform those potentially affected, a representative informed CBS.
“Due to the high vaccination rates among New Yorkers, the overall public risk remains low, with no secondary cases reported. This underscores the critical importance of vaccination as the most effective defense against measles,” stated the spokesperson.
This instance represents the fifth confirmed measles case in New York City this year, according to health department records.
The airborne virus can spread when someone coughs or sneezes – and lingers in the air for up to two hours after the infected person leaves the area.
If one person has measles, up to 90% of people around them will also get it if they are unvaccinated or otherwise not immune, according to the New York City Department of Health.
Health officials have urged the use of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as individual protection against the virus and to promote herd immunity.
You are considered vaccinated against measles if you have received 2 valid doses of MMR vaccine, or other live, measles-containing vaccine.
Norma said there is no known “ongoing risk” at the restaurant.
The New York City DOH did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.
