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The CDC recommends that infants as young as six months get vaccinated against measles if they will be traveling abroad.

(Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

The state Department of Health, along with Jersey City, is investigating a suspected case of measles in a baby, a state official said Thursday.

If confirmed, it would be the first case of measles in New Jersey this year, and would add to the growing number of cases of the highly contagious disease across the country.

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According to state Health Department spokeswoman Donna Leusner, the suspected measles case involves a 1-year-old baby who not been vaccinated. Health authorities do not recommend vaccinating children under 1 year old, usually recommending that parents wait until the child is between 12 and 15 months old.

The baby has recovered, Leusner said.

However, the potential for individuals to have been exposed to the virus remains. According to Leusner, the latest time a person could become ill due to exposure in this case will be Feb. 7.

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In addition, residents of the building where the baby lives were notified of a potential measles exposure "out of an abundance of caution." The statement did not identify the baby's family's address.

Leusner did not say if the suspected case is related to the nationwide outbreak, in which 102 cases of measles in 14 states were confirmed since Jan. 1, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last year, the state had three confirmed cases, she said.

Measles is an easily transmitted disease that is first marked by runny nose, fever, cough and achiness followed by a spotty, itchy rash.

According to CDC, 90 percent of people who haven't been vaccinated for measles will get it if they are near an infected person.

Measles spreads when people breathe in or have contact with virus-infected fluid, such as the droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs, according to Nemours Foundation. A person who is exposed to the virus might not show symptoms until 8-10 days later.

People with measles are contagious and can spread the disease from five days before the rash appears until about four days after that, and are most contagious while they have a fever, runny nose, and cough, the foundation says.

Tim Darragh may be reached at tdarragh@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @timdarragh. Find NJ.com on Facebook.