NJ Measles Outbreak: 5 Things You Should Know As Risk Expands

At least three communities could have exposed New Jerseyans to measles in recent months since health officials announced that a multi-state outbreak of the disease has hit the region.

A person who was contagious with measles visited a mall and a store that's frequented by a number of New Jerseans in recent weeks. The Best Buy in Palisades Mall in West Nyack, NY, just over the border from New Jersey, was exposed to measles on Nov. 24 between 7 p.m. and 9:30 pm.

This follows the revelation that 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. Read more: 3 People In 1 Passaic County Household Have Measles, State Says

The three Passaic County people have a "direct epidemiological link" to the outbreak in Ocean County, the State Department of Health said. The virus has spread since the first of 15 cases was confirmed in Ocean County more than a month ago.

Officials said those with confirmed cases of the measles in Ocean County 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. Read more: 18 Measles Cases In Ocean County Outbreak: Health Department

Here are five things you should know as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dealt with at least 220 individual cases of measles that have been confirmed in 26 states and the District of Columbia.

• While the measles outbreak has largely targeted specific communities in New Jersey and New York, health officials warn that exposure to the measles may occur even if you believe you didn't have direct contact with someone who is infected. People may shop, dine, and run errands around the areas of exposure before they realize they are ill.
• The New Jersey outbreak is not connected to the 87 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland County, where the Best Buy is located, as well as 7 suspected cases that the Rockland County Department of Health is continuing to investigate. There are also now 34 cases in Brooklyn, NYC health officials said. But the New York areas of exposure are still close enough to cause concern for New Jersey health officials. Read more: Measles Outbreak: 87 Cases In Rockland, 34 In Brooklyn
• 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.
• 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.
• Health officials say anyone who visited any of the potential exposure sites during the specified dates/times should contact a health provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness. Those potentially exposed, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as Dec. 19, officials said.

Read more: Are You At Risk In Ocean County Measles Outbreak?

With reporting by Karen Wall, Dan Hubbard and Lanning Taliaferro

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