2 More Measles Cases Reported In New Jersey, State Says

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — After a person with measles landed in a Bergen County emergency room two weeks ago, two more people with the highly contagious virus have been reported, according to the state — both of whom were unvaccinated and were in contact with the first person.

The state is asking anyone who was in contact with the three infected patients to contact a health provider to get checked out. Someone in contact with the first person could develop symptoms as late as March 6, the state said. READ MORE: Bergen County Resident Brought Measles Into Hospital Emergency Room

Deaths

This week, it was reported that an unvaccinated child with measles in Texas had died. The last time a child died of measles in the U.S. was 22 years ago, in 2003, health authorities said. An adult woman died of the virus in 2015.

So far, 82 percent of the 164 measles cases documented in the United States have been people 19 or under.

Officials say measles can be "particularly dangerous for young children, pregnant women, and those with weakened immune systems."

New Jersey's Cases

In New Jersey, the state said, "As of Feb. 20, two secondary cases of measles have been identified. The new cases had close contact with the index case. The individuals had been under quarantine, minimizing any additional potential exposures. All three cases associated with this situation are unvaccinated. As of today, there are a total of three measles cases in NJ in 2025. A total of seven measles cases were reported in NJ in 2024."

The state's Department of Health is working in collaboration with local health officials to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious, they said. The state urged residents to ensure they are current on all routine vaccinations, especially MMR vaccinations, which have been in use for more than 50 years.

Anyone who was in the Englewood Hospital Emergency Department on Feb. 9, between 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., should contact a health provider, they said.

Clusters Across The Country

A measles vaccine was licensed for public use starting in 1963. The Americas were declared free of endemic measles by 2016, but suffered a setback two years later due to gaps in vaccines in other countries that led to outbreaks there, scientists say.

The Centers for Disease Control are now updating measles cases each Friday.

As of Friday, Feb. 28, 164 measles cases were reported by eight states, they said: Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas.

Texas' Department of Health said in an update Wednesday that their outbreak had climbed to 124 people since it was reported last month, with most cases in children. Eighteen people had been hospitalized with measles in the area so far, they said.

In America, most children are vaccinated at a young age. Because the disease is so contagious, it requires at least 95 percent of a local population to be vaccinated in order to prevent its spread, health officials say.

The virus can cause respiratory and neurological problems, pneumonia, vomiting, and other symptoms.

Measles symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a rash that usually appears between three and five days after symptoms begin, the state of New Jersey said.

The rash usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet. Measles can also cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and can lead to miscarriage in pregnant people, premature birth, or a low-birth-weight baby.

The state said, "Those who may have been exposed or who suspect illness should call their health care provider first before arriving at any facility so that necessary infection prevention precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff. NJDOH is working in collaboration with local health officials on ongoing contact tracing and on efforts to notify people who might have been exposed and to identify additional exposures that may have occurred."

They noted, "The virus spreads easily through the air when someone coughs or sneezes and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

"Individuals at risk include those who have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past," they noted.

An outbreak is defined as three or more related cases by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

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