NEW JERSEY – The 12th case of measles has been confirmed in Ocean County, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
The NJDOH is warning Ocean County residents that might have been exposed to the contagious disease anytime between Nov. 6 and 9 at the following locations:
- Fountain Ballroom, Lakewood, October 30-31 between 6 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
- Mesivta of Eatontown, Lakewood, NJ and 107 East Harvard St, Lakewood, NJ, November 6-9
- Bais Shalom AKA Alumni, Lakewood, NJ, November 6 between 1:15 and 6:45 p.m.
- Motor Vehicle Commission, Toms River, NJ (The Motor Vehicle Commission has chosen to close this location until Monday, Nov. 19. Other locations will be open for customers in the area), November 7 between 2:30 and 5:15 p.m.
The Ocean County Health Department announced that in addition to the 12 cases confirmed, 11 potential measles cases are under investigation.
State and county health departments are encouraging residents to get vaccinated.
“Vaccination is encouraged and those children involved with exposure to a confirmed case may be subject to an order of exclusion, if unvaccinated,” stated the OCHD. “The Ocean County Health Department continues to support and highly encourage the exclusion of non-vaccinated children from schools, preschools and daycares in the outbreak area. These entities have the authority to make that decision when an outbreak has been declared by the New Jersey Department of Health.”
While the NJDOH is working with the OCHD to identify and notify those who may have been exposed already, they also urge residents to be aware of the symptoms of measles, including: rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
The measles can also cause other serious illnesses such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), miscarriage in pregnant women, or premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby.
Measles can:
- Be spread through cough or sneeze
- Live on surfaces and in the air for up to two hours
- Spread infection four days prior and four days after a measles rash onset.
- Affect someone 5 to 21 days after exposure
While the NJDOH and OCHD continue to work on mitigating the outbreak, they recommend that anyone who visited the above locations contact their health care provider. If you have been exposed, you are at risk if you have not been vaccinated or have not had measles. Individuals potentially exposed, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as November 30.
“We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations. 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. 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,” Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist, stated.
For more information, visit the Ocean County Health Department’s website at ochd.org; the State Department’s website; or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website.
Follow New Jersey Health Commissioner Elnahal on Twitter.
