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Wednesday, February 1, 2017

New Jersey Confirms Travel-Related Measles Case in Passaic County

Contact A Health Care Provider If You Suspect Exposure
A travel-related case of measles – a highly contagious disease – has been confirmed in Passaic County in an unvaccinated seven-month-old infant who traveled internationally. The infant may have exposed others between January 17-23 while infectious.
The infant visited the Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Wayne Hospital in Wayne on Jan. 21 from 6:53 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the Pediatric Emergency Department at St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center in Paterson on Jan. 23 from 6:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
People exposed to the infant could develop symptoms as late as February 15. The child is currently recovering at home. The Passaic County is case is unrelated to the recently reported travel-related case of measles in a Hudson County adult male who also was exposed while traveling internationally.
St. Joseph’s is in the process of contacting those individuals who were potentially exposed. The Department of Health is working with local health officials to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the infant was infectious. Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.
Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby. Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed.
“A dose of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for all children 12 to 15 months of age with a second shot recommended at 4 – 6 years of age,” said Assistant Commissioner Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist. “However, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months of age and older who will be traveling internationally be protected against measles.”
Before international travel:
  • Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days).
  • Children 12 months of age and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
  • Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.
Please check the Department's website for the most current information pertaining to locations of possible exposures for both NJ measles cases. For more information about what to do if you’ve been exposed to measles, visit the Department's measles factsheet. The CDC has additional information available here
Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth. 

PSA: 1st 'Consulate Saturday' of 2017 on Feb 4


Please be advised:

The Philippine Consulate General New York will be open for regular consular services (except visa issuance) on 04 FEBRUARY 2017.


Public Health Alert: Potential Measles Exposure in Hudson County

Contact A Health Care Provider If You Suspect Exposure
The New Jersey Department of Health has confirmed a case of measles — a highly contagious disease — in a Hudson County adult male who may have exposed individuals at several public places in Jersey City between January 16-24, 2017. The individual acquired measles while traveling abroad and is recovering at home.
DOH recommends that anyone who visited the locations during the dates/times listed below, contact a health provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness. An individual who may have been exposed could develop symptoms as late as February 14, 2017. Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency room.  Special arrangements can be made for you to be evaluated while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.
Anyone who hasn’t been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed to the virus. "Two doses of measles vaccine is more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles,” said Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist.
Locations of potential exposure include:
  • Christ Hospital, 176 Palisade Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306:
    • January 20-January 21, between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
    • January 22, between 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
  • PATH Stations: Journal Square and Newport AND 
    PATH Train: Journal Square – 33rd St Line
    • January 17, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
    • January 17, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
  • Newport Tower, 525 Washington Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07310
    • January 17, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
    • January 18, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
  • Newport Mall, 30 Mall Dr W, Jersey City, NJ 07310
    • January 17, between 12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
  • 145 Harborside, Plaza 2, Jersey City, NJ 07331
    • January 19, between 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
  • LabCorp, 600 Pavonia Ave, Jersey City, 07306
    • January 19, between 12:00 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.
  • 600 Pavonia Ave, Jersey City, 07306
    • January 19, between 12:00 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.
  • Duane Reade (Journal Square),  1 Path Plaza, Jersey City, NJ 07306
    • January 19, between 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • Square 1 (Restaurant), 283 St Pauls Ave, Jersey City, NJ 07306
    • January 21, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
“We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can’t receive it for medical reasons. If you’re planning an international trip, the World Health Organization recommends that adults or adolescents unsure of their immune status get a dose of measles vaccine before traveling,” Dr. Tan added.
Measles is easily spread through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.
Measles can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain) in 20 percent of patients, especially children under 5 and adults older than 20. Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth weight baby.
DOH is working with the Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services to identify the patient’s known contacts.
A document with information on what to do if you’ve been exposed to measles is available on the New Jersey Department of Health website: https://nj.gov/health/cd/measles/documents/measles_exposure_guidance_public.pdf
For more information about measles, contact your health care provider, or visit the New Jersey Department of Health website at https://nj.gov/health/cd/measles/index.shtml
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site has additional information at www.cdc.gov/measles
Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth.