Measles Case Reported In Ocean County

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Authorities have issued an alert about a new case of measles that has been confirmed in Ocean County.

The New Jersey Department of Health issued the notice Friday warning the person with the confirmed case of measles is an Ocean County resident who potentially exposed others on Wednesday, July 10.

Anyone who visited the Center for Health Education Medicine and Dentistry (CHEMED) at 1771 Madison Ave., Lakewood, on July 10 between 1:45 p.m. and 6 p.m. may have been exposed to measles.

Anyone who visited CHEMED during those 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 July 31.

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.

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed.

There were two measles outbreaks in Ocean County in 2019. One began in October 2018 and was declared over in January, and the second was declared over in May.