Weekend visitor to Rockland County may have exposed others to measles

Joshua Jongsma
NorthJersey.com

The Rockland County Department of Health is reaching out to people who may have been exposed to measles over the weekend when a traveler from Israel visited sites in the county.

The Health Department listed the Bais Medrash Synagogue in New Square and the sukkah near the Avir Yakov Boys’ School as potential exposure sites.

It said people who were at the synagogue between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Saturday, and from 12:30 to 4 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Sunday may have been exposed.

Those at the sukkah near the boys school may have been exposed from noon to 4 p.m. Friday and 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, the department said.

MEASLES: 2 cases confirmed in Putnam County, third in Connecticut

MEASLES WARNING: What you need to know, including vaccinations

The Health Department recommends that all visitors should monitor for signs and symptoms of measles through Oct. 21; if you become ill, seek appropriate medical care immediately (call your health-care provider or emergency department before seeking care to avoid exposing others to illness); stay home (do not go to work, school or other public places); and notify the county Department of Health at 845-364-2997.

The New Jersey Department of Health warned that people at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday may have been exposed.

A passenger from Israel traveling to Newark from Tel Aviv was infectious when arriving at Terminal B and may have visited other parts of the airport, the Department of Health said, before visiting Rockland. 

Anyone in the airport from 5:30 to 10:30 a.m. that day may have been exposed, and symptoms may not develop until Oct. 19. 

Aerials of planes on the tarmac at Newark/Liberty International Airport in Newark.

Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist, recommended that everyone make sure to be up to date on the measles vaccine.

"Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can’t receive it for medical reasons," Tan said in a news release. "If you’re planning an international trip, the World Health Organization recommends that adults or adolescents unsure of their immune status get a dose of measles vaccine before traveling.”

Measles symptoms

Symptoms include:

  • Rash 
  • High fever 
  • Cough 
  • Runny nose 
  • Red, watery eyes

Measles is spread through the air.

Newark Airport also had a reported measles exposure in May.

Email: jongsma@northjersey.com