New Jersey health officials are warning commuters of possible Measles Exposure after a Hudson County resident with a confirmed case of the virus traveled on the PATH train and Hudson-Bergen Light Rail between August 13 and 15.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, the individual rode during both morning and evening rush hours over the three-day period, raising concerns for thousands of daily riders. Officials are urging the public to check their vaccination records, confirm they have received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, and stay alert for symptoms of the disease in the coming weeks.
Transit Routes and Measles Exposure Details
The infected individual used the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail, boarding at the 8th Street station, and also traveled on the PATH Newark–World Trade Center line. They spent time at Exchange Place Station in Jersey City, a major transit hub, during peak commuting times.
Because New Jersey measles exposure spreads through airborne droplets released when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, anyone traveling on the same routes during those dates may have been exposed. The Department of Health emphasized that people who have not been vaccinated, particularly children, pregnant individuals, and those with weakened immune systems are most at risk for severe complications.
Health officials said commuters should monitor for symptoms, which may include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a rash that begins at the hairline and spreads downward. Symptoms often appear 10 to 14 days after exposure, meaning individuals may not know immediately if they are infected.
Nationwide Surge in Measles Cases
While New Jersey has not declared an official New Jersey measles exposure outbreak, the warning comes as cases rise sharply across the country. The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health reported 1,378 confirmed cases in 2025 so far, the highest number since 1992.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, but declining vaccination rates have fueled the virus’s return. Public health experts cite vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation about side effects, as a major contributor to the resurgence.
“Measles is not just a childhood disease, it can cause serious health complications in people of all ages,” Johns Hopkins researchers noted in their report. Complications may include ear infections, diarrhea, pneumonia, and, in severe cases, brain damage or death.
State Urges Vaccination and Vigilance
The New Jersey Department of Health is urging residents to get vaccinated if they have not already done so. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing infection, making immunization the most effective safeguard against measles.
Officials also recommend that anyone who suspects they may have been exposed avoid public spaces and contact their healthcare provider by phone before seeking treatment in person. This step, they said, can help prevent the virus from spreading further in clinics and hospitals.
Transit riders who may have been exposed between August 13 and 15 are being asked to remain watchful for symptoms through the end of the month, when the incubation period will have passed.
Although no additional measles cases have been linked to this incident so far, state health officials are monitoring the situation closely. In the meantime, they continue to emphasize that vaccination remains the most reliable protection for both individuals and the broader community.
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