There are 3 confirmed cases of measles in New Jersey, prompting health officials to urge parents to check the vaccination status of their kids (and themselves) to make sure they are up to date – and to talk to their pediatrician about the health of their babies.
On February 14, NJDOH reported one case of measles in Bergen County from someone who traveled internationally. They were admitted to the Emergency Department at Englewood Hospital on February 9. As of February 20, two secondary cases were identified – that means those people were exposed to the initial person. All three are unvaccinated, and their ages are unknown, according to reports. If you were in the Englewood Hospital that day, contact your local health official, since you can still show symptoms through March 6. Last year, New Jersey reported seven total measles cases.
Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease that’s dangerous because 90 percent of people who are exposed to someone with the virus will catch it if they are not vaccinated, according to the New Jersey Department of Health’s (NJDOH) Communicable Disease Service.
It is considered the most deadly of all childhood rash/fever illnesses, so if your child is not vaccinated, look out for high fever, cough, runny nose, red watery eyes and the very telling rash. Measles can also cause ear infections, pneumonia, swelling of the brain, and miscarriage in pregnant women.
You can have the measles for 7 to 14 days before you have symptoms; then have a fever, cough and runny nose for the next two to four days; and then a rash for three to five days – that means you can be contagious from four days before the rash appears until four days after it subsides.
One in 5 people who get measles end up hospitalized, and 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 infected children will die from complications, per the CDC. A child in West Texas died on February 26 from measles, the first reported death from the illness in the U.S. this year. The child, whose age is currently unknown, was not vaccinated.
The best way to prevent measles is with the MMR shot (measles, mumps, rubella), which is usually given in two doses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: the first is at age 12 to 15 months, and the second is at age 4 to 6; your kids can get the second dose at least 28 days after the first, if you’re worried about the current outbreak. This applies to adults as well. Babies who will be traveling internationally could get their first dose as soon as 6 months; consult with your pediatrician.
Dr. Kaitlan Baston, NJ health’s commissioner, spoke with NBC, noting that if you are unvaccinated and come in contact with measles you can get vaccinated within 72 hours and it may help lessen your exposure.
In New Jersey, the latest information from 2023 shows that for kids ages 13-17, 90.4 percent are vaccinated with two doses of MMR. And colleges in NJ have a 96.4 percent immunization rate for students for MMR, hepatitis B and meningitis.
Through February 20, there have been 93 confirmed cases throughout Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas, including three outbreaks (three or more related cases), according to NJDOH. 92 percent of cases (86 of 93) are outbreak-associated.
Of the 93 total cases reported across the country so far this year, 28 are under age 5, 48 are age 5-19, 15 are older than 20, and two don’t have their age known, according to the CDC. Studies show that 95 percent of the cases are among kids and adults who had not received the MMR vaccine or whose vaccination status is unknown.
In 2024, there were a total of 285 measles cases reported across the country.
With Spring Break coming up, parents should be particularly cautious. NJDOH experts urge all New Jersey residents planning to travel, regardless of the destination, to be current on all routine and travel vaccinations, especially MMR. You can check with the country where you are traveling for other vaccines you may need, such as for malaria, smallpox, hepatitis or polio.
A common treatment is taking a fever reducer, keeping hydrated and letting your child rest. Call your doctor if you see any serious signs of illness.
You can check the CDC website every Friday for updates on the measles outbreaks. The American Academy of Pediatrics has been posting updates as well, including its New Jersey chapter.
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