The Slatest

New Jersey’s First Possible Case of Measles Since Outbreak Is 1-Year-Old Baby

The newest cases of measles are children too young to receive the vaccine.

Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images

Public health officials in New Jersey are investigating a possible case of measles in a 1-year-old baby, according to a report on NJ.com. If confirmed, it would follow a number of other measles infections in children too young to receive the vaccine.

The baby has recovered, but authorities are monitoring several others that might have been exposed, and the state health department notified the family’s neighbors “out of an abundance of caution.”

In Palatine, Illinois, officials are warning the public to expect more cases after a cluster of infants at a day care center became ill. At least two cases of measles have been confirmed there, and officials are investigating three others, the Chicago Tribune reports. The center has told all unvaccinated children and staff not to come into the center.

The only other previous case in Illinois was an unnamed adult in Cook County. Officials have determined that he or she visited two places in Palatine while contagious, but are still working to establish whether the cases are related to each other or to the initial outbreak in California.

If New Jersey becomes the 15th state affected by the measles outbreak, it could present a public relations test for Gov. Chris Christie, who stirred up controversy with recent remarks about parental choice and vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control puts New Jersey’s vaccination rate far above California’s, so if measles has come to the Garden State, there will be fewer potential carriers.