2019 Measles Cases and Outbreaks So Far

Three outbreaks (defined as 3 or more cases) have been reported in 2019 in the following jurisdictions:

• New York State
• New York City
• Washington State

These outbreaks are associated with travelers who brought measles back from Israel and Ukraine, where large measles outbreaks are occurring. Make sure you are vaccinated against measles before traveling internationally.

Measles Cases in 2019

From January 1 to 31, 2019, 79** individual cases of measles have been confirmed in 10 states.

The states that have reported cases to CDC are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas, and Washington.

*Cases as of December 29, 2018. Case count is preliminary and subject to change.
**Cases as of January 31, 2019. Case count is preliminary and subject to change. Data are updated weekly.

Potential Measles Exposure At Newark Liberty International Airport On December 24th 2018.

In addition to the ongoing measles outbreak in Ocean County, which includes 30 Ocean County cases and 3 Passaic County cases, there is a possible new out break/exposure.

On Dec. 24, 2018, an international traveler who has been confirmed to have measles — a highly contagious disease — arrived in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from Brussels. The individual was infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport. If you were in the airport on Dec. 24 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., you may have been exposed to measles and, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as Jan. 14.

New Jersey residents identified as potentially exposed on the ill individual’s flights will be notified by their local health department.

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.

 

Public Health Alert: Potential Measles Exposure at Newark Liberty International Airport

Contact A Health Care Provider If You Suspect Exposure

On Dec. 24, 2018, an international traveler who has been confirmed to have measles — a highly contagious disease — arrived in Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport on a flight from Brussels. The individual was infectious on that day and may have traveled to other areas of the airport. If you were in the airport on Dec. 24 between 12 p.m. and 4 p.m., you may have been exposed to measles and, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as Jan. 14.

New Jersey residents identified as potentially exposed on the ill individual’s flights will be notified by their local health department.

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.

“This confirmed case and exposure are unrelated to the ongoing measles outbreak in Ocean County, which includes 30 Ocean County cases and 3 Passaic County cases,” said New Jersey Health Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal.  “Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles, so I urge all residents across the state to get vaccinated to protect their health.”

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.

“Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed,” 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.

A document with information on what to do if you’ve been exposed to measles is available on our website. 

For more information about measles, contact your health care provider, or visit our website. 

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website has additional information. 

Follow New Jersey Health Commissioner Elnahal on Twitter.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.

Erie County, Buffolo New York, Person Found With Measles Leads To A Health alert.

General vicinity Of the Measles infected person traveled.

An Erie County person is infected with measles traveled around the area above,  between Dec. 4 and Tuesday. If the person came in to contact with anyone, who had not been vaccinated, could get infected. said Erie County Health Commissioner Dr. Gale Burstein.

"It’s very, very contagious," she said. "Unfortunately, it can cause very serious infections."

Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital confirmed the individual who came to the emergency department on Monday tested positive for measles.

The resident, an Eastern European immigrant who came to the United States on Nov. 27,  visited Catholic Charities on Herkimer Street, the Department of Health clinic on William Street, on December 4th. Sweet Home High School, on December 5th and Erie County Social Services on Pearl Street, Aldi and Best Buy on Transit Road, Marshalls on Maple Road on 6th of December. Lastly he/she visited Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital on Monday the 10th.

If you were in these places on given time, Please contact a health care provider.

Here are the time frames of potential exposure:

Catholic Charities, 20 Herkimer St., on Dec. 4, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. or on Dec. 6 between 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m
Erie County Health Clinic at the Jesse Nash Health Center, 608 William St., on Dec. 4 between 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Dec. 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sweet Home High School on Dec. 5, between 5 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Erie County Social Services, 158 Pearl St., on Dec. 6, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Aldi, 4259 Transit Road, on Dec. 6, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Best Buy, 4401 Transit Road, on Dec. 6, between 6 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.
Marshalls, 2383 Maple Road, on Dec. 6, between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital Emergency Department, on Monday the 10th, between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.