3 People In 1 Passaic County Household Have Measles, State Says

Three people in one Passaic County household who have contracted the measles are linked to 15 cases of the virus in Ocean County, state health officials said.

The three people have a "direct epidemiological link" to the outbreak community in South Jersey, the State Department of Health said. The virus has continued to spread since the first of 15 cases was confirmed in Ocean County a month ago. (See related: 3 Passaic Co. Locations Possibly Exposed To Measles: Officials)

Officials said those with confirmed cases of the measles range in age from a 6-month-old baby to a 59-year-old adult, and have rash onset dates from Oct. 17 (the case that was confirmed Oct. 24) to Nov. 24. (See related: 18 Measles Cases In Ocean County Outbreak: Health Department)

"These cases have potentially exposed individuals in Ocean and Passaic counties," officials said.

A Passaic city resident could have exposed others to the virus between Nov. 17 and 18, the New Jersey Department of Health announced Friday afternoon. There are no known public exposures related to this individual.

Three Passaic County locations have been listed as places where people could have been exposed to the measles after a county resident was exposed to the virus, state health officials said last week.

Anyone who visited the following locations in the city of Passaic may have been exposed to the measles:

• Passaic Chill Youth Drop In Center, 217 Brook Ave. between 8:30 p.m. Nov. 17 and midnight Nov. 18
• Junior's Kosher Deli, 215 Main Ave., Nov. 18 between 7:30 and 10 p.m.
• Rite Aid, 78 Main Ave., Nov. 18 Sunday between 8 and 10:30 p.m.

Department of Health officials are working in collaboration with the Ocean County Health Department and City of Passaic Division of Health to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious.

Health officials continue to encourage those who are not vaccinated — both children and adults — to get inoculated against the virus, which is very contagious that spreads through the air and can linger for two hours after someone infected leaves the building or room.

Measles symptoms usually develop 10 to 12 days after exposure to an infected person and generally last from seven to 10 days. Initial symptoms include a fever which may exceed 104 degrees, cough, runny nose and inflamed eyes, and 30 percent of those who come down with the measles experience serious complications, officials have said.

The department also has "initiated or responded to" hundreds of telephone calls and emails as it has investigated the potential sources of exposure and numerous people who may have been exposed. The virus lingers in the air for up to two hours after the person with measles has left a room or building, officials have said.

The number of cases "would be much higher were it not for the immunity provided by those who have received the MMR vaccine" in response to the outbreak, said Daniel Regenye, Ocean County public health coordinator, an effort that has included work of seven of its public health clinical nurses, four health educators and others in the department.

With reporting by Karen Wall, Patch staff

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com

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