Overview
- Confirmed on August 2, the Passaic County case is New Jersey’s sixth this year and is unconnected to recent Hudson and Ocean county clusters.
- Potential exposures were traced to Chilton Medical Center’s emergency department from 7:00 p.m. on July 31 to 3:30 a.m. on August 1 and to its fifth-floor ICU between 1:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on August 1.
- Exposed individuals could develop measles symptoms—including high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a spreading rash—as late as August 24 and are urged to call ahead before visiting health facilities.
- By July 30, the CDC reported 1,333 cases nationwide across 40 jurisdictions, marking the worst year for measles in the United States since 1992.
- Health authorities stress that the MMR vaccine is the primary protection against measles and recommend travelers verify their immunization status before international trips.