Measles outbreak: 16th case reported in Ocean County

Another case of measles has been confirmed in Ocean County, bringing the total there to 16 cases, according to the county health department.

An additional three cases are affecting a family in Passaic County, but those cases stemmed from the Lakewood outbreak.

In a news release Wednesday, the Ocean County Health Department provided two additional updates on the outbreak that began in late October:

• The number of suspected cases under investigation dropped from six to just one.
• The latest date of possible infection was moved back five days, to Nov. 29 — which means it will be January at least before officials declare the outbreak over.

Forty-two days must pass without a new case of measles confirmed before officials declare the end of the outbreak.

OUTBREAK:Here are 14 places you may have been exposed

Symptoms of the measles include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and sore throat. Then comes a rash that spreads over the body. The rash typically does not appear for seven to 21 days after exposure. Measles can cause serious complications or even death.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through the air after sneezing or coughing and remains contagious for hours even after an infected person has left the area. The best way to prevent its spread, health officials say, is to get vaccinated.

The outbreak in Lakewood was reported after a person from Israel — where a larger outbreak has sickened about 1,500 people and resulted in the death of a child — visited the township and exposed other residents. There are 14 businesses and synagogues and even the Toms River Department of Motor Vehicles where others may have been exposed to contagious individuals.

Similar but larger outbreaks are occurring in Brooklyn and Rockland County, New York.

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Stacey Barchenger: @sbarchenger; 732-427-0114; sbarchenger@gannettnj.com