Measles exposure risk at N.J. medical center, health officials warn

The New Jersey Department of Health warned residents Saturday that a person with measles recently visited the emergency department at Chilton Medical Center in Morris County.

Anyone who visited the emergency department in Pompton Plains from 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 31 to 3:30 a.m. the following morning may have been exposed to measles, according to the state announcement.

Additionally, anyone in the hospital’s fifth floor intensive care unit on Friday, Aug. 1, between 1:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., may also have been exposed to measles, according to health officials.

People exposed could develop symptoms as late as Aug. 24, the state added.

Individuals at risk include those who have not been fully vaccinated or have not had measles in the past.

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The single case involves a resident of Passaic County who developed measles following recent international travel. This case is not related to the Hudson County or Ocean County cases reported in July, the state department noted.

There were no other cases reported as of Saturday, according to the announcement.

New Jersey has reported six measles cases among residents so far in 2025, three of which were part of a household outbreak in February.

Measles is a highly contagious virus easily spread by an infected person talking, coughing or sneezing. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose, watery red eyes, and a red rash that begins at the hairline. In serious cases, infected people may develop pneumonia and encephalitis. Pregnant women may miscarry or deliver a low birth-weight baby, the health department said.

People with measles are contagious starting four days before the rash appears through four days after the rash is visible.

The virus spreads easily through the air when someone coughs or sneezes and can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area, officials warned. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

The health department stressed people should call their doctor first before arriving at any facility so that necessary infection prevention precautions can be taken to protect other patients and staff.

According to the CDC, as of July 29 a total of 1,333 confirmed measles cases were reported by 40 states so far this year.