Residents in northeastern New Jersey say that they are on high alert due to a serious measles outbreak in Rockland County, New York – which sits on the New Jersey border.

Officials in Rockland County have declared a state of emergency after reports of at least 153 cases of the measles.

“It’s a big concern. Whatever it is, the measles or whatever it is, it’s contagious,” says Bergen County resident Terrence Scott.

New York health officials now say that any unvaccinated children will be banned from public places until the outbreak subsides.

Now the Northwest Bergen Regional Health Commission – which contracts for public health services for such towns as Emerson, Hillsdale, Mahwah and Midland Park – are monitoring the situation on the border.

A spokesperson says, “The local health department works with the New Jersey Department of Health to identify, notify and monitor people when an exposure occurs. There are currently no outbreaks or cases in Bergen County.”

The statement continued, "We continue to work along with the NJDOH to keep the public educated on the need to immunize and be aware of their vaccination status…The most important message is to make sure they are vaccinated. If they are not vaccinated, they should avoid going to a community, where there is an active outbreak."

New York officials say that the Rockland County outbreak has been largely concentrated in the ultra-orthodox Jewish communities, many of which have close ties to Brooklyn areas where there have also been infections.

There have been at least eight cases of measles in New Jersey this year.

A measles outbreak that originated in Lakewood at the end of 2018 saw over 30 people infected. That outbreak was also linked to the Orthodox Jewish community, according to officials, who said that it began with an infected person who had returned to New Jersey after a trip to Israel.