A woman with measles who recently traveled to New Jersey from Italy appears to have infected a local man in Camden County who is said to have “probable measles”, according to the New Jersey Department of Health. Authorities believe the man may have exposed some people in public places to the measles virus between April 21 and 24. New Jersey authorities say this has nothing to do with two cases of possible measles exposure involving two French females last week.

The New Jersey Department of Health is asking anybody who went into the following addresses during the dates specified below to see a health care professional immediately:

  • April 21 – between 6.30pm-9.30pm. Pop Shop, 729 Haddon Avenue, Collingswood.
  • April 22 – between 8am-midday. Home Depot, 2160 Route 70, West Cherry Hill.
  • April 23 – between 6am-9pm. Kohl’s, 2133 Route 38, Cherry Hill.
  • April 24
    Between 11am-4pm. Magnolia Nursery, 405 S. White Horse Pike, Magnolia.
    Between 11am-4pm. Toys R Us, 500 New Jersey 38, Cherry Hill.
    Between 11am-4pm. Walmart, 500 New Jersey 38, Cherry Hill.
    Between 11am-4pm. Home Depot, 2160 Route 70, West Cherry Hill.
    Between 11am-4pm. Lowe’s, 122 W. Oak Ave., Lawnside

If you think you were in any of those places at those times, call a health care professional before entering a medical facility, authorities say. While it is important to check whether the person has been infected, other patients and medical staff need to be protected from possible infection too. People exposed and infected on those days may develop signs and symptoms between April 26 and May 15, which may include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash.

Dr. Christina Tan, acting deputy commissioner and state epidemiologist, said:

“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. Two doses of measles vaccine is more than 99 percent effective in preventing measles.

And 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,”

In Europe over 6,500 measles cases have been reported so far this year in 33 countries.

When an infected person sneezes, coughs or even talks, measles spreads easily through the air. Coming into contact with saliva or mucus of an infected person is another way of becoming infected. Those who have never been vaccinated or have never had measles before are at risk of becoming infected when exposed to the virus.

Measles is a viral infection caused by the rubeola virus, it is a highly infectious illness. Measles is continually present in a community and many individuals develop resistance, i.e. it is an endemic disease.

When measles enters an area and non-vaccinated people or those who have never had the disease are exposed, the results can become a serious public health concern. Approximately two-thirds of Cuba’s population died during an outbreak of measles in 1592. Two years after that half the population of Honduras also died of the same disease.

Experts say approximately 200 million people have died from measles over the last 150 years. In the 1850s half of Hawaii’s population died.

So far, 21 different measles virus strains have been identified.

Children under 5 and adults over 20 have a higher risk of developing measles complications, including swelling of the brain (encephalitis) and pneumonia. An infected pregnant mother has a higher risk of premature birth, giving birth to a low-weight baby, and miscarriage.

Medical staff say the man has measles signs and symptoms and was exposed to places and circumstances where the virus was present – however, laboratory results are pending. There is no news on whether the infected woman who travelled in from Italy had been vaccinated.

Source: New Jersey Department of Health

Written by Christian Nordqvist