Second Possible Measles Case In New Jersey

A second possible case of measles in New Jersey has been discovered.

An undergraduate student at Princeton University has been diagnosed with a suspected case of measles and was contagious, according to Princeton Health Officer Jeffrey Grosser.

Additional tests are being conducted after the student was diagnosed on Feb. 17. Grosser expects the results of those tests within the next few days.

The Princeton Health Department is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Health and Princeton University to locate anyone who may have been exposed between Feb. 4 and Feb. 8.

Officials don’t believe the student visited any locations off campus.

According to the University, the student visited the following locations on campus while they may have been contagious:

• 1938 Hall
• Baker Hall
• Blair Hall
• Frick Chemistry building
• Friend Center
• Holder Hall
• McCosh Health Center
• Spelman Hall
• Wallace Hall
• Whitman College dining hall
• and evening and weekend hours in Frist Campus Center, Dillon Gymnasium and New South.

Anyone who may have visited these locations between Feb. 4 and Feb. 8 should contact the Princeton Health Department at 609-497-7610.

According to the University:

Measles is caused by a virus and is very easily spread from person to person. Measles starts with fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat. It’s followed by a rash that spreads over the body.

When an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, the virus is released into the air and enters another person’s body through the nose, mouth or throat. People can also become sick if they come in contact with the mucus or saliva from an infected person.

The measles virus can live on contaminated surfaces and in the air for up to two hours. Measles may be transmitted from four days before through four days after the onset of a rash.

Anyone known to have been in the same areas as the student with suspected measles are being contacted. All undergraduate and graduate students who have not been fully immunized will be contacted by University Health Services (UHS), advised of their options and monitored closely, and some may need to be isolated.

More than 99.5 percent of all Princeton University students have been vaccinated and the measles vaccine is very effective, but in rare cases even individuals whose vaccines are up-to-date might still get measles.

Undergraduate and graduate students who have symptoms consistent with measles should isolate themselves and call McCosh Health Center at 609-258-3141 during business hours or 609-258-3139 after hours.

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