The New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) has confirmed a new case of measles in a Hudson County resident. Officials said the individual contracted the illness following close contact with a non–New Jersey resident who was already infected. The case is not connected to previously reported cases in the state.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a measles outbreak is defined as three or more related cases. At present, New Jersey is not experiencing an outbreak.
Anyone who may have been exposed to measles is urged to contact their local health department or healthcare provider before visiting a medical facility, so that precautions can be taken to prevent further spread.
Measles symptoms typically include high fever, cough, runny nose, red and watery eyes, and a rash that appears three to five days after the onset of illness. The rash generally begins on the face and spreads downward.
The virus can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and pregnancy-related risks such as miscarriage, premature birth, or low birth weight.
Exposure can result in symptoms developing as late as September 11, 2025. As of August 22, no additional linked cases have been reported in New Jersey.
So far in 2025, New Jersey has reported seven confirmed measles cases, the same number reported in 2024. Nationally, cases have risen sharply. As of August 20, the CDC reported 1,375 measles cases across 42 jurisdictions—the highest level since 1992, despite the disease being declared eliminated in the United States in 2000.
The measles virus is highly contagious, spreading through airborne droplets and remaining in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Individuals who are not vaccinated or who have never had measles are most at risk.
Health officials continue to recommend the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best protection. The two-dose vaccine series is considered safe and effective in preventing both the disease and its complications.
NJDOH advises all residents to remain current with routine vaccinations and notes that those traveling internationally should be fully vaccinated beforehand. Infants between six and eleven months old should receive one dose prior to travel, with two additional doses administered after their first birthday.