New Measles Exposure Reported In North Jersey— At A Pre-School

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — A day after New Jersey officials said a person with measles visited three medical facilities in Bergen County, officials in one town say a pre-school was also exposed.

The town of Englewood posted on social media around 5 p.m. Thursday, "There was a potential measles exposure at the Bergen Family Center Leonard Johnson Early Learning Center on Aug. 22 between 9:15 a.m. and 3 p.m."

The pre-school on Armory Avenue enrolls kids age 4 and under.

They are asking parents, guardians, or visitors who entered the Bergen Family Center through the front main entrance at that time — "whether dropping off a child or visiting for any other reason" — to contact the Englewood Health Department to provide proof of immunity to measles.

They said anyone who was exposed and doesn't have proof of immunity should stay home until Sept. 12.

They added, "This alert does not apply to individuals who were only at the Bridges Family Success Center within the Bergen Family Center building and did not use the front main entrance. These individuals are considered not exposed."

Earlier this year, two children and an adult died during an outbreak of measles in Texas.

The majority of New Jersey residents are vaccinated against the highly contagious virus, but in recent years, the percent of those vaccinated has declined.

More than 94 percent of those treated for the virus in the Texas outbreak were confirmed to be unvaccinated, the state of Texas said.

Two More Bergen County Locations Made Public

Englewood officials posted a memo from the state Department of Health saying that the pre-school was among the sites visited by the same person whom the state had notified the public about on Wednesday.

The state explained in a message to the town of Englewood that they did not include the school in the press release sent out on Wednesday because they instead notified local health officers to alert those exposed.

Englewood officials noted on Thursday, "At this point, exposure notification has been made internally to everyone who may have been present in the facility during that time."

The state's notice sent to the town of Englewood contained two other locations that were not previously made public:

• Next Generation Pediatric Urgent Care, 481 S. Washington Ave., Bergenfield, Aug. 22, 6-8:45 p.m.
• HMH-Pediatrics, Hackensack, 385 Prospect Ave., Suite 210, Hackensack, Aug. 25, 2:30-5:45 p.m., Aug. 29, 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The 385 Prospect Ave. building, a medical office building, had been included in the previous day's release, but without the specific suite.

Exposed people could develop symptoms as late as Sept. 20, the state said. They should contact their medical provider about what to do, rather than just heading to a facility, the state said.

The Englewood Health Department can be contacted with questions about the learning center at: (201) 568-3450 Ext. 511 or 513 or (201) 315-6223.

The Recent Case

The state said on Wednesday that this case of the Bergen County resident is not related to previously reported incidences in the state, including a case reported last month of a Hudson County resident who took public transportation around North Jersey. READ MORE: Measles-Infected Rider Took NJ Transit, State Says

The state's Department of Health said on Wednesday that anyone who visited the following locations, only during the specified dates and times, may have been exposed to measles:

• Location: 385 Prospect Plaza, 385 Prospect Ave, Hackensack (Medical Office Building)
• Aug. 25, 2:30-5:45 p.m., Aug. 29, 8:45 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

• Location: Pediatric Emergency Department, Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack
• Aug. 26, 10:45 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

• Location: Joseph M. Sanzari Children's Hospital, Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Ave, Hackensack
• Aug. 26, 3:30 p.m. to Aug. 27, 8:30 p.m.

Anyone who suspects an exposure or illness should call their local health department or a health care provider, state officials said.

Was Eradicated In The Americas

Measles was virtually eradicated in North and South America by 2016, due to childhood vaccines that have been in use since 1963. However, the progress was set back in 2018 due to gaps in vaccines in other countries that led to outbreaks, scientists say.

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.

New Jersey's vaccination level recently dropped to 92 percent, an official said.

What To Watch For

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 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."

Worst Year Since 1992

Nationally, measles cases have soared to the highest levels reported since 1992, eight years before the disease was eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, said the state.

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.

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

The MMR vaccine is administered in two doses, and protects against measles, mumps, and rubella, as well as their complications.

The state encouraged all residents to stay up to date on routine vaccinations, including MMR shots.

Find out more here: NJDOH Measles Webpage

PRIOR REPORTING: State Of NJ Gives Update On Bergen County Measles Cases, Herd Immunity