4th Ocean County Measles Case Confirmed

A fourth case of measles has been confirmed in an adult from Ocean County, and state health officials say that person may have exposed others, including people at Newark Liberty International Airport.

The new case is the latest in an Ocean County outbreak that started earlier this month. It's the second outbreak of measles in the last six months; 33 people were diagnosed with measles in an outbreak that started in mid-October and was declared over in mid-January.

The Ocean County adult who may have exposed people at Newark Liberty International Airport is separated from a case announced previously in a traveler who arrived March 4 from Aruba into Terminal C at the airport and "may have traveled to other areas of the airport," the health department said. If you were in the airport between March 4 at 9 p.m. and March 5 at 9:30 a.m., you may have been exposed to measles and, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as March 26. The individual departed for California from Terminal C. New Jersey residents identified as potentially exposed on the ill individual’s flights will be notified, officials said.

The current Ocean County outbreak remains under investigation to see whether there is any connection between the recent cases, the previous outbreak in Ocean County, or current outbreaks in other states.

Anyone who visited the following locations at the specified dates and times may have been exposed to measles:

• Bais Medrash Tiferes Pinchos, East 5th St and Negba St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
• Newark Liberty International Airport, Terminal B
  • March 14 from 9 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. (March 15)
• Congregation Bais Tefilla, 33 East 8th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 9 from 8:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m.
  • March 10, 11, 13 and 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
• Beth Medrash Govoha, Bais Yitzchok Hall, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 10, 11, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • March 13 from 12:45 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Beth Medrash Govoha, Yoshon Hall, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 10, 11 from 4 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • March 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
• Beth Hamedrash Zichron Binyomin, 701 Princeton Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 9 from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
  • March 10, 11 from 9:30 p.m. to midnight both nights
  • March 13 from 10:45 p.m. to 1:15 a.m. (March 14)
• Lake Terrace Hall, 1690 Oak St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 11 from 10 p.m. to 12:45 a.m. (March 12)
• Kol Shimshon, 323 Squankum Rd, Lakewood, NJ 08701
  • March 12 from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
  • March 12 from 9 p.m. to 11:15 p.m.

The Department is working in collaboration with the Ocean County Health Department to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious.

Anyone who visited the locations listed above during the specified dates/times should contact a health provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness. If you have been exposed, you are at risk if you have not been vaccinated or have not had measles. Individuals potentially exposed, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as April 7.

Anyone who suspects an exposure 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.

Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby. 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.

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.

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