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Officials: 4 measles cases total confirmed in New Jersey

<p>New Jersey health officials have confirmed another case of measles in Ocean County.</p>

News 12 Staff

Nov 2, 2018, 12:53 PM

Updated 2,217 days ago

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New Jersey health officials have confirmed another case of measles in Ocean County.
The latest case announced Friday is the fourth overall. Officials say these people developed symptoms after being exposed to another person who acquired measles while traveling internationally.
Officials say the infected people may have exposed others to the disease while they were at sites in Lakewood between Oct. 25 and Halloween. The sites include NPGS Grocery Store on Main Street, Pizza Plus on Fourth Street and the CHEMED Health Center on Madison Avenue.
The state Health Department considers this an outbreak of measles in the community.
Health officials in Ocean County are also warning anyone who may have traveled to Monsey and New Square in Rockland County, New York. There are now 46 confirmed cases of measles and another dozen suspected cases. Doctors in both states say it's extremely important to get vaccinated now.
"We have certain groups that tend not to vaccinate or tend to delay vaccination and in those groups you see of course much lower rates and that's what we are trying now to get to,” says Rockland Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert.
Anyone who suspects they were exposed to the disease should call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department so special arrangements can be made for an evaluation. This will also protect other people and medical staff from possible infection.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
The Associated Press wire services contributed to this report.