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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Health Committee Receives Updates on Hantavirus, Measles, and Ebola Outbreaks - May 20, 2026

Board of Legislators & Committees — Wednesday, May 20, 2026

BodyWestchester County, New York

SessionBoard of Legislators & Committees

DateWednesday, May 20, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 59:45

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

0:00

Morning.

0:13

I was going to say one of the things that I handed out is actually a New York State fact sheet that has the link.

0:19

So I don't know if somebody wants to get on the internet and project it if you guys want.

0:23

It's open up for you.

0:25

You could display it.

0:26

The um website is on the bottom of the uh of the um tab app.

0:33

Legislative Johnson.

0:34

Thank you.

0:36

This meeting is being recorded and summarized.

0:41

Good morning all.

0:42

I am uh legislative Jewel Winners Johnson, Chair of the Board of Legislators Committee on Health.

0:49

Today is May 20th.

0:52

Um, and we'll take attendance to officially start.

0:56

I'm marking myself as present.

0:59

Committee vice chair Barr present legislative in a mora.

1:06

And I know that legislative peers is on her way.

1:10

Legislator Uli, Chairman Gashi.

1:14

We are officially open at 1106 a.m.

1:20

Today, um considering recent uh headlines, we are um glad to receive an update from our Department of Health, uh Commissioner Dr.

1:34

Shalita Amita Amler, as well as um our resident epidemiologist, Dr.

1:42

Ada Hong the uh Hunter virus and um the measle uh outbreak.

1:53

I mean not necessarily an outbreak, we were just talking before we officially started, and that there's been uh sprinkling of cases all around us.

2:03

So um I will gladly uh turn over the mic to um the expert doctors in the room, and um thank you for being here and making us uh smarter and more aware about these two important issues.

2:21

Well, we always appreciate the opportunity to have conversations.

2:25

I think you know, an educated public is a prepared public, and um that's what we hope for.

2:32

And so uh Dr.

2:34

Wong with me who is our infectious disease expert, one of our infectious disease experts at the health department.

2:40

And Ada, I don't know if you want to start with um uh yeah, I thought I would start with hontavirus since that's the thing that's in the news.

2:49

Um time permitting, after we finish, I can also do a brief update about what's going on with the Ebola virus.

2:55

Like I said, there's always something um going on.

2:59

So, yes, thank you for bringing this up.

3:01

So, one of the things, and there's uh like hard copy handout, but this is actually the New York State Um Department of Health fact sheet or FAQs on this Andes virus, and I will get into it in a minute so that people can look at it.

3:17

Um before I go into that and some of the more specifics, you know, with the Andes virus, there's a couple of I think top-line key messages, and one the risk to the general public is extremely low, and as the New York State Commissioner says, there's no immediate risk to any New Yorkers.

3:37

And I think I'm gonna go out on a limb because we don't like to say no or never, but unless you were a passenger on the affected cruise ship, or you were exposed to an infected passenger on a commercial flight or elsewhere, like at home or in a health care facility, all of whom I believe have been identified by health officials.

3:58

Your risk is essentially zero.

4:00

I mean, there really is no risk to the public, and just want to reassure um there's no reason not to proceed with whatever your travel plans are if you don't fit into one of those um categories, and so um that's one thing.

4:14

We just wanted to provide reassurance.

4:16

The other concern that's come up, at least to us, and I just want to be clear this is not COVID, and this is not going to be another pandemic.

4:25

I think when everybody heard about cruise ship and disembarkation and whatever it is, it brought back like memories of what happened with the cruise ship in 2020 with COVID.

4:36

So again, this is not COVID, and it's not going to be another COVID.

4:40

And some of the reasons for that is that um, first of all, this Andes Hontavirus is much less easily spread um than COVID or measles.

4:52

The other thing is this is a very contained setting.

4:55

It was that cruise ship.

4:56

We know everybody who was on that cruise ship, and there's a limited number of identified exposed contacts.

5:00

And there's a limited number of identified exposed contacts.

5:03

For example, they know who the people were on the airplanes, that people who left the ship early and flew on commercial flights.

5:10

And those people have all been identified and they're all under monitoring.

5:15

So that's one thing.

5:17

The other thing is that Andes Fire Hontavirus is the only Hontavirus with person to person spread.

5:26

And this virus and the rodents that carry this virus are not found anywhere in the US.

5:32

I mean, it's really found only in places in southern Argentina and Chile.

5:38

So I do want to emphasize that there's another strain of Hantavirus that is found in the US, and that's sort of confounding and causing some of the confusion right now.

5:49

But the ones that you're hearing about are completely unrelated.

5:52

It's caused by a different strain.

5:54

And there is Hontavirus of this different strain that's in the US.

5:59

I don't want to say normally or routinely, but it is found.

6:02

It's not unusual, but it's completely unrelated, you know, to this cruise ship and the Andes virus.

6:09

The other thing that I think it's important to restate that.

6:13

Okay.

6:13

Okay.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

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Summary of Proceedings

Health Committee Receives Updates on Hantavirus, Measles, and Ebola Outbreaks - May 20, 2026

The Westchester County Board of Legislators Health Committee, chaired by Legislator Jewel Williams Johnson, met on May 20, 2026, to receive updates from Department of Health Commissioner Dr. Sherlita Amler and Epidemiologist Dr. Ada Huang on the Andes hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, the current measles situation, and a developing Ebola virus outbreak in Africa. The meeting began at 11:06 AM and adjourned at 12:04 PM, with legislators attending in person and remotely.

Discussion Items

Andes Hantavirus (Cruise Ship Outbreak)

Dr. Huang and Dr. Amler provided a detailed timeline and risk assessment. They emphasized that the risk to the general public is extremely low and that this is not COVID-19 nor another pandemic. The Andes hantavirus strain spreads person-to-person but is confined to a limited geographic area (southern Argentina and Chile) and is not present in U.S. rodents. The U.S. strain is unrelated and does not spread person-to-person.
The outbreak originated on a small nature cruise (80 cabins, 170 passengers) that left Argentina on April 1. As of the meeting, there had been 11 confirmed cases and 3 deaths. The first death occurred on board April 11, but was not initially suspected as infectious disease. Subsequent deaths and testing led to World Health Organization notification on May 2.
All 18 U.S. passengers are at the National Quarantine Center in Omaha, Nebraska, with no symptoms reported as of May 20. Most are voluntarily staying through at least May 31, covering the 42-day incubation period. Two individuals have been issued federal quarantine orders by the CDC after expressing unwillingness to cooperate. There are no exposed individuals in Westchester or New York State.
An additional 23 U.S. residents who flew home from the ship earlier are being monitored by local health departments and are reportedly voluntarily cooperating.
Legislators asked about the timeline and whether earlier notification could have occurred. Dr. Amler noted that the ship was not U.S.-based and that the physician on board also fell ill. Dr. Huang explained that testing is not readily available and that supportive care (e.g., ECMO) is critical, hence the preference for keeping exposed individuals at a designated quarantine center.

Ebola Virus (Bundibugyo Strain)

Dr. Huang gave a brief update on an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda, caused by a rare strain (Bundibugyo). The WHO was notified in mid-May; cases have grown to 500-600, with about 130 deaths. Underreporting is likely due to political instability, conflict, and testing challenges.
The outbreak has spread to densely populated areas (Kampala, Goma), raising concerns about wider transmission. The U.S. has imposed travel restrictions for non-residents from DRC, Uganda, and South Sudan, but returning U.S. residents are not yet subject to mandatory quarantine or screening, though plans are being developed.
Seven American missionaries working in the affected area were transported to Germany for care; the surgeon tested positive.
Legislators raised concerns about global health infrastructure and funding cuts, with Chair Williams Johnson and others noting that diseases do not respect borders.

Measles Update

Dr. Amler and Dr. Huang reported that measles remains a serious threat. In 2025, there were 2,300 cases and 3 deaths in the U.S. (the largest numbers in over 30 years). So far in 2026, there have been 1,900 cases, surpassing the prior year’s pace. The U.S. is at risk of losing its measles elimination status.
New York State has seen 11 cases in 2026, mostly in New York City and Rockland County, with locally acquired transmission in unvaccinated communities. Westchester County has had no cases since 2019, but vigilance is high.
Vaccination coverage among 2-year-olds in Westchester is only 81%, well below the 95% needed for herd immunity. The health department strongly encourages vaccination and offers free MMR and other vaccines at its White Plains and Yonkers clinics for those without insurance or whose insurance does not cover vaccines. The clinic phone number is 914-995-5800.
Measles cases are concentrated in communities with low vaccination rates, with recent outbreaks in Utah, Arizona, and South Carolina. Two of the 2025 U.S. measles deaths were school-age children; the third was a young adult, all unvaccinated and previously healthy.
Legislators expressed concern about declining vaccination rates and vaccine hesitancy. Chair Williams Johnson noted that she herself received a booster dose after the last presentation.

Key Outcomes

No votes or formal actions were taken. The committee received the informational updates as presented.
The health department will continue to monitor the hantavirus situation in coordination with federal and state partners and will update the committee if the situation changes.
Dr. Amler and Dr. Huang reiterated the availability of free vaccines at county clinics and urged constituents to check immunization records and get vaccinated against measles.
The committee expressed appreciation for the health department’s work and noted the importance of global health surveillance, especially in light of upcoming World Cup events and potential disease spread.

Meeting Transcript

Morning. I was going to say one of the things that I handed out is actually a New York State fact sheet that has the link. So I don't know if somebody wants to get on the internet and project it if you guys want. It's open up for you. You could display it. The um website is on the bottom of the uh of the um tab app. Legislative Johnson. Thank you. This meeting is being recorded and summarized. Good morning all. I am uh legislative Jewel Winners Johnson, Chair of the Board of Legislators Committee on Health. Today is May 20th. Um, and we'll take attendance to officially start. I'm marking myself as present. Committee vice chair Barr present legislative in a mora. And I know that legislative peers is on her way. Legislator Uli, Chairman Gashi. We are officially open at 1106 a.m. Today, um considering recent uh headlines, we are um glad to receive an update from our Department of Health, uh Commissioner Dr. Shalita Amita Amler, as well as um our resident epidemiologist, Dr. Ada Hong the uh Hunter virus and um the measle uh outbreak. I mean not necessarily an outbreak, we were just talking before we officially started, and that there's been uh sprinkling of cases all around us. So um I will gladly uh turn over the mic to um the expert doctors in the room, and um thank you for being here and making us uh smarter and more aware about these two important issues. Well, we always appreciate the opportunity to have conversations. I think you know, an educated public is a prepared public, and um that's what we hope for. And so uh Dr. Wong with me who is our infectious disease expert, one of our infectious disease experts at the health department. And Ada, I don't know if you want to start with um uh yeah, I thought I would start with hontavirus since that's the thing that's in the news. Um time permitting, after we finish, I can also do a brief update about what's going on with the Ebola virus. Like I said, there's always something um going on. So, yes, thank you for bringing this up. So, one of the things, and there's uh like hard copy handout, but this is actually the New York State Um Department of Health fact sheet or FAQs on this Andes virus, and I will get into it in a minute so that people can look at it. Um before I go into that and some of the more specifics, you know, with the Andes virus, there's a couple of I think top-line key messages, and one the risk to the general public is extremely low, and as the New York State Commissioner says, there's no immediate risk to any New Yorkers. And I think I'm gonna go out on a limb because we don't like to say no or never, but unless you were a passenger on the affected cruise ship, or you were exposed to an infected passenger on a commercial flight or elsewhere, like at home or in a health care facility, all of whom I believe have been identified by health officials. Your risk is essentially zero. I mean, there really is no risk to the public, and just want to reassure um there's no reason not to proceed with whatever your travel plans are if you don't fit into one of those um categories, and so um that's one thing. We just wanted to provide reassurance. The other concern that's come up, at least to us, and I just want to be clear this is not COVID, and this is not going to be another pandemic. I think when everybody heard about cruise ship and disembarkation and whatever it is, it brought back like memories of what happened with the cruise ship in 2020 with COVID. So again, this is not COVID, and it's not going to be another COVID. And some of the reasons for that is that um, first of all, this Andes Hontavirus is much less easily spread um than COVID or measles. The other thing is this is a very contained setting. It was that cruise ship. We know everybody who was on that cruise ship, and there's a limited number of identified exposed contacts. And there's a limited number of identified exposed contacts. For example, they know who the people were on the airplanes, that people who left the ship early and flew on commercial flights. And those people have all been identified and they're all under monitoring. So that's one thing. The other thing is that Andes Fire Hontavirus is the only Hontavirus with person to person spread. And this virus and the rodents that carry this virus are not found anywhere in the US.

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