Confirmed Measles Case - Bergen County

Updated:
January 21, 2026
Published:
February 14, 2025

What You Need To Know

Confirmed Case of Measles, Bergen County, NJ

Date: February 14, 2025

Public Health Message Type: ☒ Alert ☐ Advisory ☐ Update ☐ Information

Intended Audience: ☒ All public health partners ☒ Healthcare providers ☒ Infection preventionists ☒ Local health departments ☒ Schools/childcare centers ☐ ACOs ☐ Animal health professionals ☐ Other

Summary:

  • A confirmed case of measles has been identified in Bergen County, New Jersey, with recent international travel.
  • Providers should remain vigilant and consider measles in people with a febrile rash illness lasting three days or more, a fever of 101°F (38.3°C) or higher, and clinically compatible symptoms (cough, coryza and/or conjunctivitis), particularly if the person was potentially exposed to a case of measles or has recently traveled internationally.
  • Providers who are ordering measles testing should obtain samples from the following sites: oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swab (rRT-PCR), urine (rRT-PCR), and serum (measles IgM and IgG).
  • Providers should implement measles prevention measures by ensuring they and their staff are up-to-date with immunizations, triage patients by telephone, isolate patients upon arrival and have access to and are trained to use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when interacting with patients.
  • Providers should ensure their patients are up to date on recommended immunizations including MMR. Prior to international travel, everyone 6 months and older may be eligible for MMR.
  • Measles is an IMMEDIATELY reportable condition, and providers should immediately report suspected cases of measles to local public health authorities where the patient resides, or if not available, to the NJDOH at (609) 826-5964 during regular business hours or (609) 392-2020 after business hours or on the weekend.
  • Measles cases continue to be identified across the country with 5 jurisdictions reporting cases in 2025, including Alaska, Georgia, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas. Texas is currently experiencing an ongoing measles outbreak in Gaines County. 100% of these cases are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Background:

The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) Communicable Disease Service would like to make you aware of a confirmed measles case identified in a New Jersey (NJ) resident. This is the first confirmed case of measles reported in NJ in 2025. A total of 7 measles cases were reported in 2024 in NJ.

An unvaccinated Bergen County resident developed measles following recent international travel. The individual developed rash on February 9 and was subsequently confirmed to have measles via positive measles PCR results. While infectious, the individual visited three health care facilities potentially exposing others during the dates and times listed:

  • 2/8/2025, 12:15 PM – 4:00 PM PromptMD Urgent Care, 2059 Hudson Street, Fort Lee, NJ  07024
  • 2/9/2025, 11:30 AM – 3:45 PM Englewood Hospital Emergency Department, 350 Engle  Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
  • 2/9/2025, 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Hackensack University Medical Center, 30 Prospect Avenue  Hackensack, NJ 07601

The NJDOH is working in collaboration with local health officials to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individual was infectious. As of February 14, 2025, no additional cases have been identified. Secondary cases would be expected to occur no later than March 6. The NJDOH would also like to make you aware that the Texas Department of State Health Services is investigating a measles outbreak in Gaines County, TX. As of February 11, there are 24 cases associated with the outbreak. All cases are unvaccinated. 100% of the cases are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.

Therefore, the NJDOH requests healthcare providers maintain vigilance for measles among patients who meet the clinical criterion for measles (generalized maculopapular rash lasting 3 or more days, fever at least 101°F (38.3°C), and cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis). Take a detailed history to determine the individual’s travel history, contact with travelers or other possible exposures, vaccination status, and detailed history of present illness including symptoms, symptom onset dates and rash progression. Report all patients that are suspected of having measles IMMEDIATELY to local health department where the patient resides or, if not available, to the NJDOH.

Measles Specimen Collection and Testing:

The NJDOH advises healthcare providers to collect specimens from patients suspected of having measles as early as possible in the course of illness. Efforts should be made to obtain specimens from suspected cases at first contact and testing should be expedited and coordinated with the local health department. When there is a high index of suspicion, measles PCR testing is the preferred testing methodology, which is performed at the NJDOH Public Health and Environmental Laboratory. Approval is required by NJDOH prior to submission.

The following specimens should be obtained:

  • Nasopharyngeal (NP) or throat (OP) swab for PCR testing - preferred (hold for NJDOH submission approval)
  • Serum for measles IgM and IgG testing (send to commercial laboratory)
    • Acute phase serum as soon as possible and convalescent serum 2-3 weeks later
    • Collect minimum of 2 ml of blood in a red top or serum separator tube (red-speckled or gold).
    • PLEASE NOTE:
      • If serology is being ordered to determine measles immunity, commercial IgG testing is recommended. Do NOT order measles IgM if the patient is asymptomatic or recently vaccinated with MMR.
      • Serologic test results should be interpreted with caution, as false-positive and false-negative results are possible with IgM tests.
  • Urine specimens should only be collected if an NP/OP swab is not able to be collected.

Infection control considerations for suspected cases of measles:

The NJDOH requests that all healthcare providers maintain a high index of suspicion for measles in persons with a febrile rash illness, especially in those persons with recent international travel or visit to a community with an on-going measles outbreak. Because measles is highly infectious and the virus can remain airborne up to two hours, providers should take precautions to minimize exposure if one of their patients is suspected of having measles:

  • Advise patients who call about a febrile rash illness to minimize exposure to others
  • Post signage outside of the office notifying patients with rash to call BEFORE entering
  • Should a suspected case present for care, place a mask on patient and isolate immediately
  • Arrange for an exam in an isolated area. The exam room should not be used for at least 2 hours after the measles suspect leaves
    • Review vaccine records or titer reports for your staff now, to ensure that only those with evidence of immunity to measles provide care to a suspected case of measles.
      • People presumed to be immune to measles are those:
        • Born in the US before 1957
        • Have documentation of receipt of two doses of live measles-containing vaccine (MMR)
        • Have documentation of a positive measles IgG titer
    • Remind providers/staff about the importance of receiving up-to-date immunizations and using appropriate precautions and personal protective equipment (PPE) when interacting with patients.

Prevention of Measles:

  • The best way to prevent measles is to remain up to date on all measles vaccinations especially when considering traveling abroad.
  • The following people should be vaccinated against measles:
    • All children over one year of age who have not yet been vaccinated
    • Children between 6 months and 1 year of age who will be traveling internationally or visiting a community with an on-going measles outbreak (This dose will not count toward the primary series and two additional doses after one year of age will still be required)
    • Adults who have not yet been vaccinated and were born after 1957 and not had laboratory confirmation of a previous measles infection.
    • Adults of any age who will be traveling internationally or visiting a community with an on-going measles outbreak who have not previously received two doses of MMR.

The New Jersey Department of Health's licensing standards for health facilities require that facilities notify the Department of reportable events in accordance with all applicable State and Federal regulations. New Jersey Administrative Code (N.J.A.C.) 8:43-10.11(e) states “A health care facility shall report incidents of infectious and communicable diseases to the Department pursuant to N.J.A.C. 8:57.” Filing a report via the NJDOH web-based electronic “Non-LTC Reportables Survey” DOES NOT satisfy communicable disease reporting regulations set forth in N.J.A.C. 8:57.

The NJDOH reminds healthcare providers that measles is immediately reportable upon suspicion, and to report suspected cases of measles to the local health department where the patient resides, or if not available to the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service at (609) 826-5964 during regular business hours or (609) 392-2020 after business hours or on the weekend.

Additional measles information and resources can be found on the New Jersey Department of Health’s measles page: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/measles.shtml