Monmouth County resident infected with measles

There is one confirmed case of measles in New Jersey, the state health department announced. website friday,

It warned residents to be cautious of the “highly contagious virus” and to make sure they are up to date with their MMR – measles, mumps and rubella – vaccinations.

An infected resident of Monmouth County, who contracted it while traveling internationally, is the first known case in the Garden State as of October 10.

However, symptoms may appear in people by October 29, the health department said.

It also listed locations where the infected person had traveled in the state – Livoti’s Old World Market and El Rancho Mexican Restaurant in Freehold, the International Longshoremen’s Association strike, the Elizabeth Chasis Depot in Elizabeth, Atlantic Health Immediate Care in Marlboro and Jersey Shore University’s ER Medical Center in Neptune City.

Symptoms include high fever, which can rise to more than 104 degrees, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes and rash.

The rash, which usually appears three to five days after the initial symptoms, begins as red spots at the hairline on the face, and then spreads to the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet.

Measles can cause serious health problems, especially in people under 5 years of age, According to CDCIt can also cause pneumonia and encephalitis, and may cause miscarriage in pregnant women, or premature or low birth weight babies.

The virus spreads through airborne droplets after an infected person sneezes or coughs and can remain in the air for several hours. About nine out of 10 who come in contact with an infected person will get it if they haven’t received adequate protection against it from a vaccine.

In 2000, measles was officially eliminated in the US.

However, every year the disease is brought into the country by unvaccinated travelers.

NYC Health Department reported Till August 23, 13 cases of measles have been reported in five cities.