Measles In New Jersey: Alert Issued As More Cases Discovered

New Jersey already is on a pace in 2017 to surpass the total number of measles cases reported over the past two years. So the state has a message for all New Jersey residents: Get vaccinated!

The state Department of Health issued the statement Tuesday after revealing that a 7-month-old baby was diagnosed with measles and might have spread the infectious disease to others.

In an unrelated case, the Department of Health announced Friday that it has confirmed a case of measles in Hudson County involving an adult male who may have exposed individuals at several public places in Jersey City from Jan. 16 to 24.

The individual acquired measles while traveling abroad and is recovering at home, DOH officials stated.

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 Commissioner Cathleen Bennett.

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

While two cases is hardly an "outbreak," New Jersey had a total of three cases in 2014, three cases in 2015 and none last year.

Both cases were not infectious/contagious when on the plane/traveling at the airport.

"Occasionally, New Jersey sees cases of measles, so it is important for residents to be fully vaccinated for protection," said Nicole Kirgan, a DOH spokeswoman. "Two doses of measles vaccine is more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles."

In the Passaic County case, 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.

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.

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 health care provider or visit the New Jersey Department of Health website.

Patch file photo