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Cases Prompt Measles Alerts Issued In Jersey City, Long Island

JERSEY CITY, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- Officials in New Jersey and on Long Island have issued alerts warning the public of a possible exposure to the measles.

An adult man in Hudson County has been diagnosed with the measles, and may have exposed people in several public places between Tuesday, Jan. 16 and Tuesday, Jan. 24, the department said.

The man got the measles while traveling abroad and is now recovering at home. But anyone who visited the following places at the specified dates and times is advised to contact a health care provider:

• Christ Hospital, 176 Palisade Ave., Jersey City:
January 20-January 21, between 9 p.m. and 2 a.m.
January 22, between 4:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

• PATH Stations: Journal Square and Newport and PATH Train: Journal Square – 33rd Street Line
January 17, between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.
January 17, between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

• Newport Tower, 525 Washington Blvd., Jersey City:
January 17, between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
January 18, between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

• Newport Mall, 30 Mall Dr. W, Jersey City:
January 17, between 12 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• 145 Harborside, Plaza 2, Jersey City:
January 19, between 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

• LabCorp, 600 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City:
January 19, between 12:00 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.

• 600 Pavonia Ave., Jersey City:
January 19, between 12:00 p.m.- 2:45 p.m.

• Duane Reade (Journal Square), 1 Path Plaza, Jersey City:
January 19, between 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

• Square 1 (Restaurant), 283 St Paul's Ave., Jersey City:
January 21, between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

CBS2's Valerie Castro talked Friday evening with commuters at the Journal Square PATH Train station.

"I've never had the measles and I really don't want to catch it," said Catherine Thomas.

Thomas passed through the terminal on Jan. 17, the same day as the infected man. But she noted that she is vaccinated.

"That's why you get vaccinated, so you don't be worried, because you rarely get it if you're vaccinated," she said.

When asked if he was vaccinated, commuter Cesar Aguirre said, "Yeah I think so, pretty sure, yeah I am."

Meanwhile, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services has been notified of a confirmed case of the measles in an infant who arrived recently from overseas. The child was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip on Jan. 19 for evaluation and released, and was seen at HRHCare Martin Luther King Jr. Family Health Center in Wyandanch on Jan. 25, the department said.

Anyone who is not fully immune to the measles who was at the Good Samaritan Hospital ER between 5:57 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19 is considered exposed and should contact their health care providers immediately if they develop symptoms. Those with questions may call the hospital at (631) 376-3000.

Anyone who was at HRHCare Martin Luther King Jr. Family Health Center between 9:45 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. is also considered exposed. Those who have not been contacted by HRHCare should call the health center at (516) 214-8020 immediately, as preventive measures may be effective if the vaccine is administrated within three days of exposure or if immune globulin is administered within six days.

Only those who have had two documented measles vaccinations, a blood test showing immunity, and those who were born in and have lived in the U.S. before 1957 are considered immune.

Experts noted that those who have been vaccinated need not be concerned.

"Measles is highly contagious," said Dr. Len Horovitz of Northwell Health Lenox Hill Hospital. "But if you have been properly vaccinated-you have nothing to worry about. You are immune to it."

But Horovitz, a pulmonologist, said anyone not immunized could get sick if they traveled through the same places.

"It can live in a public space where the person who just coughed and left respiratory droplets, which can effect someone who has no immunity who has not been vaccinated," he said.

Anyone who thinks they may be infected should call a doctor before going to a doctor's office or emergency room to prevent spreading illness.

Everyone also advised to make sure they and their family members are up to date on the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine and all other age-appropriate vaccinations.

Measles is easily spread through the air when an infected person so much as talks, coughs or sneezes.

Measles can also cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis in 20 percent of patients – particularly children under 5 and adults over 20. Measles infections in a pregnant woman can also lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth weight baby.

Someone who might have been exposed to the measles through the man in Jersey City might develop symptoms as late as Feb. 14. Symptoms include a rash, high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.

The New Jersey DOH has released a document about what to do if you are exposed to the measles.

The New York State Health Department has also put together information, as has the Centers for Disease Control.

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