FIRST REPORT: 12 Measles case confirmed in Lakewood, 11 under investigation; List of possible exposure locations [UPDATED]

A twelfth case of measles — a highly contagious disease — has been confirmed in Lakewood. This individual could have exposed others to the infection while in Ocean County between November 6 and November 9.

There are also an additional 11 cases under investigation.

Anyone who visited the following locations may have been exposed to measles:

  • Fountain Ballroom, 725 Vassar Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
    • October 30-October 31 between 6:00 p.m. and 1:30 a.m.
  • Mesivta of Eatontown, 1300 New Hampshire Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701 and 107 East Harvard St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
    • November 6-November 9
  • Bais Shalom AKA Alumni, 345 9th St, Lakewood, NJ 08701
    • November 6 between 1:15 and 6:45 p.m.
  • Motor Vehicle Commission, 1861 Hooper Ave, Toms River, NJ 08753 (The Motor Vehicle Commission has chosen to close this location until Monday, Nov. 19. Other locations will be open for customers in the area).
    • November 7 between 2:30 and 5:15 p.m.

The Department is working in collaboration with the Ocean County Health Department to identify and notify people who might have been exposed during the time the individuals were infectious.

The Department urges residents to remain vigilant for any symptoms of measles. Measles symptoms include rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. It can cause serious complications such as pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain). Measles infection in a pregnant woman can lead to miscarriage, premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby. Measles is easily spread through the air when someone coughs or sneezes. People can also get sick when they come in contact with mucus or saliva from an infected person.

The Department recommends that anyone who visited any of the locations listed above during the specified dates/times should contact a health provider immediately to discuss potential exposure and risk of developing the illness. If you have been exposed, you are at risk if you have not been vaccinated or have not had measles. Individuals potentially exposed, if infected, could develop symptoms as late as November 30.

Anyone who suspects an exposure is urged to call a health care provider before going to a medical office or emergency department. Special arrangements can be made for evaluation while also protecting other patients and medical staff from possible infection.

Anyone who has not been vaccinated or has not had measles is at risk if they are exposed. “Two doses of measles vaccine are about 97 percent effective in preventing measles,” said Dr. Christina Tan, state epidemiologist.

“We urge everyone to check to make sure they and their family members are up-to-date on measles/mumps/rubella (MMR) vaccine and all other age-appropriate immunizations. Getting vaccinated not only protects you, it protects others around you who are too young to get the vaccine or can’t receive it for medical reasons. If you’re planning an international trip, the World Health Organization recommends that adults or adolescents unsure of their immune status get a dose of measles vaccine before traveling,” Dr. Tan added.

Before international travel:

  • Infants 6 through 11 months of age should receive one dose of MMR vaccine. Infants who get one dose of MMR vaccine before their first birthday should get two more doses (one dose at 12 through 15 months of age and another dose separated by at least 28 days).
  • Children 1 year and older should receive two doses of MMR vaccine, separated by at least 28 days.
  • Teenagers and adults who do not have evidence of immunity against measles should get two doses of MMR vaccine separated by at least 28 days.

 

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42 COMMENTS

    • The more money you give to yeshivos, the more protection you have. BTW, they’re very geshmake chevra. There as one collecting in a shul recently – poeple were giving him because he was so geshmak-pleasant and on the ball.

    • This was explained many times already. There are certain individuals with a medical problem and their body can not handle a vaccine. There are a number of reasons. It is very important to get vaccinated.

  1. can everyone please take a break….
    Hashem is sending a msg to all of us. and the way that everyone is bashing each other is not making it stop if anything the opposite. so please don’t get angry and upset at those that don’t want to vaccinate. If its suppose to happen to you it will!
    and with that zechus it will all stop.
    Thank you!
    (p.s. I vaccinate)

  2. I DO NOT support atni-vaxers
    But just think it’s worth mentioning
    That anyone who developed the measles – whether because they didn’t vaccinate or because they’re part of the 20% – could have innocently gone to any of these locations before they realized they in fact had the measles
    Not davka going to places and ‘making a chilul Hashem’ as someone put it.

  3. BTW just because you are vaccinated does not mean you are immune. there are people that were vaccinated and took a blood test to check if they are immune and they are not. don’t know if this means the vaccine didn’t work for them or what…..

  4. Anon
    You are correct that they could have gone to these places before they realized that they have the measels (if they did know they had it and still went places them they are rotzchim mamesh)
    However non vaccinated people should NOT BE GOING ANYWHERE NOW THAT ITS SPREADING!!!!!!!
    THEY SHOULD STAY AWAY FROM ALL OF US

  5. My immune system was compromised due to chemotherapy. The immunity I had to these viruses from all my vaccinations I had have been wiped out because the chemotherapy killed my whole immune system, both good parts of it and bad. My oncologist said that its to dangerous for me to get vaccinated again because my body wont be able to even fight the vaccine. That being said, anyone who BY CHOICE does not get vaccinated puts me at risk. If I get the Measles CH”V, it is “Sakonas Nefashos Mammesh”. Simply put, that makes them a “Rodef”. I already have more worries than many others. What right do you have to give me this new worry?

    • Did you ever stop to think that although you may have very valid reasons for not vaccinating, you may be putting others at risk?

      Maybe those people also have valid reasons. Why blame others while you yourself aren’t immune? Listen to your DR & your Rav & the rest is up to the one above.

    • Anyone who has not had the measles and goes near you is putting you at risk. Only people who had measles are 100% immune. Everyone else might have measles. If you go to a store that was frequented by 100 people that day, a few seemingly healthy customers might easily have come in spreading measles germs even if they were all vaccinated. Thank G-d for safe, truly immune, post-measles people. Refuah shleimah.

  6. btw there are people that were vaccinated and took a blood test to check if immune and they were not. not sure what this means but could be shot doesn’t always work…

    • It’s a lot more than that. Even if blood test shows immunity, there have been people who were highly immune, yet a got a strong case of an illness. yet, there were those who were not immune and the body fought it off. Blood testing does not prove immunity – it’s a lot more complex than that. Blood work can show what viruses one has had, but that does not prove immunity.

  7. If this individual was contagious between Nov. 6th and Nov. 9th (as stated above), how could he possibly have exposed anyone at the Fountain Ballroom on October 30th/31st?

  8. Oh my gosh!!!! I was at that wedding in the cheder on october 31st luckily im immuned , and by the way the dmv is closed till monday because of measles for the amazing anti-vaxxers peoples

  9. There’s going to be a development for all the unvaccinated with their own schools, shuls, stores – this way we can hopefully stop the spread!

    May everyone stay healthy!

  10. Dear neighbor
    Unfortunately it’s not only anti vaxxers who pose the threat to you , any person who is sick with flu or etc who comes to shul, grocery store etc can put person like you in real danger . I am experiencing same insecetivity to my 2 year old that has very low immunity and people have no problem bringing their kids to playgroup with cough , running noses and sometimes even with fever telling the Morah he/she is a little under the weather and my baby catches it right away .. so I need to keep him home away from people.
    So I totally understand your frustration . On the other note spoke to the very prominent Rabbi ( don’t want to mention his name as he doesn’t want to get bombarded on this topic ) about anti vaxxers and he explained , that they do have another side of story that people don’t want to accept , he said that many people got hurt and it’s hard to convince someone who’s relative died in car crash due to faulty car issue to let other child to buy this car brand again as trust is lost . Most of the anti vaxxers would happily take vaccines but afraid of side affect or vaccine injury . And I can’t come and tell someone who already lost their loved one or had bad reaction , go do it again (this time it will work better )because you endangering my child . My daughter is volunteer in center and too many parents are convinced that changes started right after taking vaccines
    Refua sheleima !
    Let’s have a benefit of doubt and in this merit G-d may protect us all . Like it says in Talmud not the snake brings death but our sins!
    Stay safe
    Ralph

  11. Don’t get how from what I hear all the people who got measles ( besides 1 baby under 12 month ) are all vaccinated and all the unvaccinated are all safe but they are the ones spreading it ? Reminds me of makos in mitzraim
    Please explain this phenomenon

  12. what’s worse an anti-vaxxer or a smart phone? why is this taking so long to put down already. need to have a kinus tehillim and strong measures (like a real charem), We should publisize who the heads of the anit vaxxers are and once and for all have ALL the rabonnim in town put their foot down

  13. Great. I was at the DMV on the 7th at those times to renew my license. My doctor told me to come in to have blood drawn to make sure at my age I am still immune. Thinking about everywhere I’ve been since then. Staggering.

  14. It is possible to contend with this problem in a calm way. The schools were pressed to act bec of the cold facts and the interest expressed by concerned parents. There is no need to bash a fellow yid even if he’s misguided. Please keep your emotions regulated when you post online. The sinah that we are showing to each other is doing farm more harm to our image then the dmv closure.

  15. Concerned
    Why don’t you ask this question to your Rov .
    I am afraid internet is much worth then not vaccinating as you killing your neshoma
    Like someone above pointed out that it’s not the snake bite that kills but the aveiros that we do .
    Let’s not continue having sinas hinom and in this zechus we all will be protected .
    By the way what’s measles ? Stay in bed for few days and good to go , we used to have measles party when we were little , don’t understand what’s this hysteria all about , and please don’t tell me it’s becaue you worry about your neighbor above , as then you would also be worried not to come sick to work , shul , grocery , you would cancel , all the workers and cleaning ladies

  16. Many more cases are unreported. I just heard about an anti-vax family with 6 kids who have the measles. Not going to the doctor because they’re trying to hide their fault!

    • They’re getting something which is A) a normal childhood disease, and B) even strengthens the person – both physically and emotionally!
      Give plenty of fluid for the fever, a cornstarch bath to relieve itching (do not put on any cream or even natural oil without consulting an expert, as the rash is part of the body’s expelling the virus – and a very important component), if eyes hurt, keep room dark. There is nothing to worry about unless there are other existing issues or a child in countries where they are very malnourished. Give Vitamin A (in measures suggested by an expert), as the body uses much in fighting measles. Also C etc. help. The risks of MMR are serious, and immunity is not guaranteed.
      All this is coming from a Dr. Mendelsohn and his student – who gave this advice to tens of thousands of patients, and did not have one who became autistic due to a treatment.
      May there be a refuah to all who need, but these matters must be taken into serious consideration.

  17. I heard that people who aren’t immunized and get the measels aren’t going to the doctors because it makes them look bad @are these 12 measels … So there is very possibly many more cars that aren’t being reported and we have no clue where these people have been

  18. Dear Anonymous
    Did you ever hear of lav lo teilech rohel beamechu?
    You heard ???? This is pure rechilus shemra at best
    People wake up what are doing here
    It’s just measles
    Stop the hysteria you are just killing each other with all loshon hora
    Shape up !

  19. To – to the neighbor:
    If they really have a point (which I highly doubt), let them move to Guatemala, like Lev Tahor!
    The Gedolim in EY wrote – anyone who is not vaccinated by choice is a Roitzyach.

  20. All the grown people who got the measles and are passing it around never got vacimated? Thats a problem. Whats next from the anti vacers whopping cough cvs. Not getting vacimated will bring more than measles.

  21. Most of the hysteria on both sides is based on ignorance.
    1. Most anti vaxxers are operating out of misplaced anxiety of proactively causing even minor risk to their children.
    2. Most vaccinators incorrectly assume that measles is instantly dangerous to their children.
    Fact: There is great danger to life of SOME people who get the measles. Fact: Herd immunity keeps measles out and protects those who are vulnerable to death or serious long term effects of the measles. Fact: an outbreak creates great risk for those that are vulnerable. Fact: as per Rabbonim, who have weighed the cost/benefits (statistics and history of risks on both sides), it is mandatory to vaccinate to reduce the risks for those who are vulnerable to death or serious illness and long term consequences.
    No cause for hysteria – most of you don’t risk a sure instant death from vaccinating or not vaccinating – you just may be part of a chain that causes a death or deaths if you don’t vaccinate. That’s a rodef as per current piskei halacha.

  22. The measles have several potentially fatal side effects. Also, once we’re consulting experts, can we also call in a doctor or two to school you on the necessity of vaccinations and their safety? Because I live on a medical school campus. My wife is in her second year of medical school, (THAT MAKES YOU AN “EXPERT”) so I know quite a few doctors and almost doctors to explain to you why you are full of bovine droppings.

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