More Measles Cases Reported In NJ As Numbers Jump Nationwide

Nearly a hundred more measles cases have been reported in the United States since the last time the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its numbers for 2019.

In New Jersey, 13 measles cases have been reported in 2019 as the outbreak or risk of exposure continues in at least three counties. The number increased since last month, when there were 11 reported.

Bergen County officials are monitoring a measles outbreak in nearby Rockland County where a state of emergency was declared. Read more: Bergen Officials Monitoring Measles Outbreak In Rockland County

A New Jersey resident also was infected with measles and visited two locations in Hillsdale, the New Jersey State Department of Health warned. Read more: Measles Case Reported In Bergen County: State

Also, a numer of people in Ocean County have been confirmed to have the measles in the latest outbreak of the virus, according to the state Department of Health. Read more: 11 Measles Cases In 2019 Ocean County Outbreak, State Says

Health officials are also warning about potential measles exposure in Monmouth County related to the Ocean County outbreak. An Ocean County infant visited the Emergency Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch and potentially exposed individuals on March 13 from 7:30 to 10:15 p.m., according to a DOH release.

According to the CDC, through April 11, there have been 555 measles cases reported in 20 states in 2019. Just a week earlier, the CDC reported that, through April 4, there were 465 measles cases reported in the country.

The CDC is monitoring six measles outbreaks in the following areas: Rockland County, New York, New York City, Washington, New Jersey, Butte County, California and Michigan

The outbreaks the CDC is monitoring are linked to travelers who brought back the disease from other countries like Israel, Ukraine and the Philippines.

Measles cases in just the first quarter of 2019 are fast approaching the 2014 figure, when the highest number of cases was recorded over the past 10 years. In the entirety of 2014, the CDC says there were 667 measles cases.

The outbreak in Israel has raised concern that Americans traveling to Israel for Passover, which is celebrated April 19-27, may be exposed to measles and could become ill if they have never had measles or have not been properly vaccinated.

“Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed. Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” said Christina Tan, New Jersey state epidemiologist.

Anyone who suspects they have been exposed to measles is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

Before international travel:

• Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days).
• Children 1 year and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
• Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.

To combat the increase in measles cases, local health officials have been taking action to prevent the further spread of the highly contagious but completely preventable disease.

In New York City, officials have said that in certain zip codes where the outbreak is occurring, parents should not send their unvaccinated children to school until the outbreak is over. Last week, New York City health officials mandated that every person in the designated zip codes get a vaccine within 48 hours or face a $1,000 fine. An effort by city officials to educate residents in the affected zip codes has resulted in over 7,000 people receiving the MMR vaccine as of March.

Officials in Rockland County, New York, have also announced stepped up efforts to fight the spread of measles.

The outbreak in Michigan has been linked to New York City, CNN reported on Tuesday. According to CNN, a man who traveled from New York to southeast Michigan didn’t know that he was contagious and all 38 other cases in southeast Michigan have been linked to him.

The states that have reported measles cases to the CDC in 2019 are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington.

The majority of people who get measles are unvaccinated and the disease can spread when it reaches a community where groups of people haven’t received the measles, mumps and rubella, or MMR vaccine, according to the CDC. Read more: Every NJ Town's School Immunization Rate: Where Do You Rank?

The agency says more measles cases can occur if there’s an increase in the number of travelers to the United States who have measles or if the disease spreads within pockets of unvaccinated communities.

Measles spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The CDC says two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles. One dose of the vaccine is 93 percent effective in preventing measles, the agency said.

You can read more about measles via the CDC here.

Reporting and writing from Patch editors Anna Quinn and Lanning Taliaferro was used in this report