HEALTH ALERT: NJ resident with confirmed case of measles potentially exposed 2 counties

TRENTON, N.J, (1010 WINS) — A Monmouth County resident with a confirmed case of measles that started presenting after international travel may have exposed others, the New Jersey Department of Health announced on Friday.

Health officials released a list of five locations across Monmouth and Union counties where residents and visitors could have potentially been exposed.

• Sept. 30 between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. – Livoti’s Old World Market, 200 Mounts Corner Dr., Freehold, NJ

• Oct. 1 between 7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. – El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, 28 West Main St., Freehold, NJ

• Oct. 1-3 all day – International Longshoreman Association Strike, Elizabeth Chassis Depot, 1510 South Bay Ave., Elizabeth, NJ; and the area near the “Welcome to Elizabeth Terminal”

• Oct. 6 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. – Atlantic Health Immediate Care, 479 Route 520, Suite A103, Marlboro, NJ

• Oct. 7 between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. – Jersey Shore University Medical Center Emergency Department, 1945 NJ-33, Neptune City, NJ

The longest exposure period was during the recent International Longshoremen Association Strike at the Elizabeth Chassis Depot, and the individual participated all three days.

Those who visited the areas during the specified times and dates are encouraged to contact their health care providers to discuss the risk of developing the illness. Calls to health facilities should be made before arrival so that infection prevention precautions can be taken.

Individuals who have not been fully vaccinated or have not previously had measles are at risk for infection.

The state DOH is working with local health officials on contact tracing in order to notify those who may have been exposed and to identify additional exposures.

If infected, exposed individuals could develop symptoms as late as Oct. 29. As of Oct. 10, no additional cases have been identified.

Symptoms of the measles include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and a rash that appears between three and five days of infection, health officials said. The rash usually appears as flat red spots on the face and at the hairline that spreads down the neck, torso, arms, legs and feet of the infected individual.

Serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis and pregnancy difficulties, can develop from measles.

Measles can spread easily through the air when someone coughs or sneezes, and the infectious disease can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves. Direct contact, including with mucus or saliva from an infected person, can also get people sick.

The state DOH encourages all residents to receive all routine vaccinations, and especially recommends that those traveling are up to date on MMR shots.

“MMR vaccine, administered in two doses, is safe and the most effective way to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella,” health officials said. “The vaccine is also effective at preventing complications caused by these highly contagious diseases.”