Measles Found In Water Treatment Plant That Serves Passaic Co.

PASSAIC COUNTY, NJ — Health officials have detected measles in an Essex County water treatment plant that serves several other counties, including Passaic.

The site where the virus was detected also serves Essex, Hudson, Bergen, and Union counties.

On March 20, a wastewater sample tested positive for the virus. Three days later, when experts tested the same site again, it came up negative.

The NJ Department of Health says there have been no clinical measles cases identified. The last confirmed measles case of a New Jersey resident was reported in October 2025.

However, experts added that the positive detection indicates that at least one individual with measles was present in the region.

“The measles test that was done detects wild-type measles virus; it does not detect the vaccine strain,” officials said. “Therefore, a detection of wild-type measles virus in wastewater means that people who currently have or recently had measles may be present in the community. This could include people who live or work in the community, or those who traveled through the community, including through Newark Liberty International Airport.”

It’s worth noting that measles spreads through the air or through close contact with an infected person, and it’s not known to spread through wastewater.

According to the NJ Department of Health, symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin.

“The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet,” a statement read. “Measles can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and can lead to miscarriage in pregnant people, premature birth, or a low-birth-weight baby.”

Individuals who think they may have contracted the virus should call their local health department or a health care provider before going to any medical office or emergency department, health officials say.