LAKEWOOD, NJ — Four cases of measles have been confirmed in Ocean County, and the state Department of Health is now labeling it an outbreak.

Health Department Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal announced two newly confirmed cases on Thursday, and on Friday morning, the Ocean County Health Department confirmed an additional case had been diagnosed. All three new cases are people who developed symptoms after being exposed to a man who became infected measles while traveling internationally. The three new cases could have exposed others to infection between Oct. 25 and Oct. 30, a statement from the Health Department said. The first case of measles was reported Oct. 24, but that man had exposed others before the case was confirmed.

"The Department of Health is considering this an outbreak of measles in the community," the statement said. Daniel Regenye, public health coordinator for the Ocean County Health Department, said officials are urging those who may have been exposed to call health providers for advice.

Do not simply show up at the hospital or doctor's office if you believe you have been exposed because you could then expose others who may be at risk, he said. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection. Regenye said one of the pediatricians in the area held a clinic outdoors to help minimize risks because measles is so highly contagious.

"It spreads easily through the air and is very hardy," he said. The measles virus can remain active on surfaces for two hours, and if someone contagious is in a room, it can spread through the whole building, depending on the HVAC system, he said. Measles can 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.

Measles can take up to 21 days to appear; those exposed to the first man, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as Nov. 11. Anyone exposed to any of the three new cases could develop symptoms as late as Nov. 20, the health department said.



Anyone who was at any of the following locations on the specified dates who has not been vaccinated or who has not had measles is considered exposed and at risk:

Schul Satmar, 405 Forest Avenue, Lakewood; Oct. 13-Oct. from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day

Eat a Pita, 116 Clifton Ave, Lakewood; Oct. 15 between 7 p.m. and 10 p.m.

CHEMED Health Center, 1771 Madison Ave, Lakewood; Oct. 17 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. and Oct. 18 between 10:45 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

NPGS, 231 Main St, Lakewood; Oct. 25 between 9 a.m. and noon, and Oct. 29 between 2:15 p.m. and 4:45 p.m.

Pizza Plus, 241 4th St, Lakewood; Oct. 28 between 12:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Regenye said the county and state health departments are working together with others in the community to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious.