Measles Case Reported In Bergen County: State

HILLSDALE, NJ — A person infected with measles may have spread the disease to others in Bergen County, the New Jersey State Department of Health warned Monday.

The infected person, a New Jersey resident, had recent contact with a community outside of the state where there is an ongoing outbreak of measles, officials said.

Authorities did not specify where exactly the person traveled to or when.

The person could have exposed others to the infection between Feb. 17 and Sunday. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the infection.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles:

• AFC Urgent Care, 2 Broadway in Hillsdale on Feb. 18 from 2 to 5 p.m.
• Walgreens Pharmacy, 383 Washington Ave., Hillsdale on Feb. 18 from 3 to 5:30 p.m.

New Jersey health officials are working with the Northwest Bergen Regional Health commission to identify any additional exposures that may have happened, authorities said.

Anyone who may have visited the locations should contact a health care provider immediately, health officials said.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people. People first develop a fever, then may have a cough, runny nose and watery eyes, followed by appearance of a rash, health officials said.

People are considered infectious from four days before to four days after the appearance of the rash.

If infected from this individual, symptoms could develop as late as March 19, officials said.

An individual may have exposed Bergen County residents to measles last year.

The international traveler returning from Israel visited several venues in New York and New Jersey, including Lifetime Gym at 10 Van Riper Road in Montvale.

• See related: Measles May Have Been Spread To Bergen Residents By Traveler

Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if they were born before 1957, have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, have had measles disease, or have a lab test confirming immunity, health official said.

Individuals who are not immune to measles and were exposed are at risk for developing measles. Preventive treatment for measles is recommended for those without evidence of immunity as follows: MMR vaccine can be given to eligible exposed individuals within 72 hours of exposure or immune globulin can be administered within six days of exposure, officials said.

More information about measles can be found here.

Email: daniel.hubbard@patch.com