The New Jersey Department of Health is warning residents of additional exposures associated with the outbreak of measles— a highly contagious disease—in Ocean County.
A highly suspect case of measles associated with the Ocean County outbreak has potentially exposed individuals in Passaic County. This Passaic County resident could have exposed others to the infection while in Passaic County between November 17 and November 18.
In addition to the highly suspect case, a 15th case of measles has been confirmed in Ocean County. There are no known public exposures related to this individual.
Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to the measles:
Passaic Chill Youth Drop In Center 217 Brook Ave., Passaic, NJ on November 17 between 8:30 p.m. and midnight
Junior’s Kosher Deli, 215 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055 on November 18 between 7:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Rite Aid, 78 Main Ave, Passaic, NJ 07055 on November 18 between 8:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
The Department is working in collaboration with the Ocean County Health Department and City of Passaic Division of Health to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious. For a comprehensive list of exposures identified to date related to this outbreak, please visit the Department’s measles page.
The Department urges residents to remain vigilant for any symptoms of measles. 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.
The Department recommends that anyone who visited any of the locations listed above during the specified dates/times should contact a health provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness. If you have been exposed, you are at risk if you have not been vaccinated or have not had measles. Individuals potentially exposed, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as December 9.
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.
Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed. “Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” said Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist.
“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.
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 1 year 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.
When are the remaining parents going to become responsible parents and get their kids vaccinated? Now they’ve begun an infection in a whole other community! What irresponsibility and what a chillul Hashem! If they’re not going to vaccinate, these rodfim need to stay inside their homes! As haGH”R R Ahron Schechter, shlit”a, wrote: “anyone who is not up to date on their vaccinations should refrain from being in the Yeshiva community”! We have firm da’as Torah! Are they waiting for another child to die because of them? This is inexcusable!
Why the Panic?
Under R’ Meir Stern and Rabbi Heshy Hirth, Passaic has a 100% vaccination rate….
hmmm…
maybe the patient was vaccinated…
I really don’t understand some people.
Even if you are right and the infected person was vaccinated, and even if every single one of the 16 cases were vaccinated, are you so bad at math to know that it still lowers the chances by like 95%? Why do you think in terms of all or nothing?
There used to be epidemics where cities of people got infected and died and Baruch Hashem that stopped. Do you mean to bring a proof that since the infected cases (hypothetically) may have been vaccinated, therefore vaccines do nothing?
Use a calculator if you need. 20,000 is greater than 16
I think what he means to say is that why are we blaming it on the unvaccinated since (as we have seen in this outbreak so far) most of the cases were in vaccinated individuals?
The same thing happened about (I think) nine years ago. My son got the mumps, and he had 2 MMRs, as did many others who got the mumps then.
Maybe we forgot to factor in the ribono shel oilam? He’s the one who sent the measles, not the unvaccinated. I doubt he likes our reaction to his test.
Some lawyer should start to suing on behalf of infected folks. Money talks
Realize that there are many more than 15 cases -there are unvaccinated families who have hid their measles cases at home. We don’t know who they have exposed before they came down with the virus.
Suing who exactly? The pharma indistry cuz shot didnt work?
The unvaccinated? How can you possibly know how they picked it up?’
We don’t need to sue. What we need to do is have 100% compliance with a policy of not only excluding unvaccinated from school-we need to do as the Gedolim have said and exclude them entirely from our community, meaning also not allowing them in shul, avos uvanim, clubs, restaurants, stores, simchas, etc. They would get the message pretty quickly that vaccination is mandatory if you want to be a part of Our community and you are not welcome at all if you don’t vaccinate.
Lakewood measles outbreak was on CBS news radio tonight as one of their top stories. This adds to the (untrue) perception among the bigots and haters that Jewish people are dirty and unsanitized. What a chillul shem shamayim!
I used to be proud to tell other Yidden that I live in Lakewood. Now I feel that I have to hide that fact because people ask, “You mean the town responsible for measles in Jewish communities?” What a chillul Hashem! We need to get these people to leave. I don’t know where we should send them though since it wouldn’t be fair to export our shameful disaster to another community.
The person that brought the measles was a 27 year old fully vaccinated individual. Just saying….
To Me please realize as well that there are many antivaxers in Lakewood
Who have unvaccinated pet monkeys that are also spreading the disease.I know this for a fact because I heard this somewhere..unvaccinated families don’t hide their kids if they have measles,they keep them home until it passes. Unlike what the media is trying to do by portraying this as some serious disease, this is nothing more than a little stronger than the flu
We need Hashems protection more than ever now. Everyone should do their own hishtadlus and stop worrying about the neighbors. Your hishtadlus is not telling other people what to do. You do yours and that’s where Bitachon kicks in
Chaim kunda: I hope that you don’t believe what you’re saying. “Nothing more than a little stronger than the flu”??? If you really believe that, Obviously you haven’t read a thing about measles so why would you post nonsense? Measles is a very serious, sometimes fatal disease. In 2014, 73,000 people around the world DIED from measles. In developed countries, where medical care is better, 1-2 people out of every 1,000 DIE from measles and many more have serious permanent problems. Please don’t participate in a discussion if you’re not going to say anything intelligent.