New Jersey health officials warn of measles exposure in Monmouth, Union counties

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) – On Friday, New Jersey health officials warned people in two New Jersey counties who could’ve been exposed to measles.

Those counties are Monmouth and Union.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, there is one confirmed case of measles.

A Monmouth County resident recently traveled internationally. Health officials are urging everyone to be up-to-date on vaccines.

“Measles is a very serious illness and entirely vaccine-preventable,” Dr. Uzma Hasan, a pediatric infectious disease expert at RWJ Barnabas Health, told PIX11 News.

Health officials are warning everyone, particularly parents, guardians, healthcare providers, and caregivers, to be on the lookout for symptoms of the highly contagious virus and to stay up-to-date with their measles, mumps, and rubella shots.

The person who had measles went into five locations, mainly in Monmouth, between Sep. 30 and Oct. 7, possibly putting others at risk of measles exposure.

They include Atlantic Health Immediate Care in Marlboro, the Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune City, two locations in Freehold, El Rancho Mexican Restaurant, Livoti’s Old World Market, and the longshoreman strike picket line in Elizabeth.

“There is enough data to show us there is absolutely no link to autism,” Dr. Hasan, the pediatric infectious disease expert, told PIX11 News. 

The symptoms of measles include high fever, a cough, runny nose, watery, red eyes, and a rash.

“This is an alert for both children and adults,” Dr. Hasan told PIX11 News. “Because we see people in emergency rooms in their 20s.” 

Outside Livoti’s, there was concern only for those who had never had measles or their measles shot.

“I haven’t shopped here for a while,” Lawrence Valentino, a Freehold resident, told PIX11 News, “But anyone else who has been should check with their health care provider,” he added.

In this case, New Jersey health officials say the person exposed to measles could develop symptoms as late as Oct. 29.