Health Officials Warn of Measles Exposure at Roslyn Heights Restaurant

Health officials warned that a Roslyn Heights restaurant may have exposed patrons to measles after a laboratory-verified case in a New York City resident. The alert matters because measles is so contagious that one infected person can create risk for anyone inside the same indoor space, especially people who are unvaccinated or unsure of their MMR status.

The infected New York City resident was an unvaccinated adult who tested positive after international travel, and city health officials said the person also visited Norma Gastronomia Siciliana in Hell’s Kitchen on April 25 between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The same case prompted the Roslyn Heights warning, creating concern for diners in Nassau County who were there during the exposure window. Newsday reported that the resident dined at the Long Island restaurant while infectious.

Measles can spread from four days before the rash appears through four days after it appears, which is why public health officials move quickly even when the risk to the broader community is still considered low. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene says measles remains common outside the United States and is sometimes brought into the country by visitors or returning travelers. Exposures become more likely to spread in neighborhoods with lower vaccination rates.

Symptoms usually begin seven to 14 days after infection. Fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a rash are the classic warning signs, and the CDC says the disease can lead to serious complications including pneumonia and encephalitis. Babies and young children are especially vulnerable. People who may have been exposed should check their MMR vaccination status, watch closely for symptoms and contact local health officials immediately if they become ill.

The Nassau County case adds to a growing pattern across the region. Health officials on Long Island confirmed Nassau County’s first measles case in two years in an unvaccinated child under 5, and the child does not attend school or daycare. New York City confirmed its fifth measles case of 2026, and statewide there have been 10 confirmed cases so far this year.

That is why a single restaurant alert now sets off alarms far beyond Roslyn Heights. Measles cases are still tracked one by one because laboratory confirmation is essential for sporadic cases and outbreaks, and because each new exposure can reach people who are too young to be vaccinated, medically unable to receive the shot, or living in communities where immunity has slipped.