Measles May Have Been Spread To Bergen Residents By Traveler

A traveler may have exposed Bergen County and New York state residents to the measles, the New York State Department of Health warned Sunday.

The international traveler returning from Israel visited several venues in New York and New Jersey, including Lifetime Gym at 10 Van Riper Road in Montvale. The person was there Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.

The traveler also visited several venues in Monsey and Nanuet, New York, including a Costco and the Westchester Medical Center Emergency Room in Vallhalla, New York Thursday between 3:45 a.m. and 4:15, health officials said.

The measles virus remains alive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, officials said.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by appearance of a rash, health officials said.

People are considered infectious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash.

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles disease, or have a lab test confirming immunity, health official said.

Individuals who are not immune to measles and were exposed are at risk for developing measles. Preventive treatment for measles is recommended for those without evidence of immunity as follows: MMR vaccine can be given to eligible exposed individuals within 72 hours of exposure or immune globulin can be administered within six days of exposure, officials said.

More information about measles can be found here.

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Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com