North Jersey Baby Diagnosed With Measles: State Health Officials

A 7-month-old baby was diagnosed with measles and may have spread the infectious disease to others, state health officials warn.

The unvaccinated infant may have exposed others to the highly contagious disease sometime between Jan. 17 and 23 while infectious, said state Department of Health Commission Cathleen Bennett.

People exposed to the infant could develop symptoms as late as Feb. 15, Bennett said.

The infant visited the emergency department at St. Joseph's Wayne Hospital Jan. 21 from just before 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Pediatric Emergency Department at St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center in Paterson two days later from 6:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The child is recovering at home.

St. Joseph’s is in the process of contacting those individuals who were potentially exposed. State health officials are working to identify and notify people who may have been exposed when the infant was infectious.

Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed.

The case is unrelated to the recently reported travel-related case of measles in a Hudson County man who also was exposed while traveling internationally. That man may have exposed people in Jersey City from Jan. 16 to 24.

Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Measles may cause serious complications such as pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

A document with information on what to do if you’ve been exposed to measles is available on the DOH website.

For more information about measles, contact your healthcare provider, or visit the New Jersey Department of Health website.

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