State health authorities are warning residents about a recent potential measles exposure linked to a hospital visit in Middlesex County. This highlights ongoing concerns about the reemergence of measles over the past year. 

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, a person infected with measles — who was not a New Jersey resident — visited the pediatric emergency department at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick while contagious. Officials said the individual was present from approximately 11:15 p.m. on Feb. 6 through 4:45 a.m. on Feb. 7, 2026.

Anyone who was at the hospital during that time may have been exposed and could develop symptoms as late as Feb. 28, 2026. As of the state’s alert release, no additional related cases had been confirmed among New Jersey residents.

How Measles Spreads

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. It spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and the virus can remain airborne for up to two hours after the person leaves an area. Health officials warn that people who are unvaccinated or who have not previously had measles are at the highest risk of infection.

Typical symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, watery or red eyes, and a rash that usually starts on the face and spreads downward across the body. In severe cases, measles can cause complications such as pneumonia or brain inflammation.

Public Health Guidance

Health officials urge anyone who believes they were exposed or who develops symptoms to contact their healthcare provider or local health department before visiting a medical facility. This helps prevent additional spread in waiting rooms and emergency departments.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state officials emphasize that vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the most effective protection.

The state is working with local health departments to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed and to monitor for additional cases.

Measles Emergence in New Jersey

New Jersey typically experiences isolated measles exposure events rather than widespread outbreaks, often linked to travel-related cases. In 2025, New Jersey reported 11 confirmed measles cases, and a recent measles exposure was reported at Newark Airport at the end of last year. Nationally, cases have increased in recent years, prompting continued public health monitoring and vaccination outreach efforts.

Sources 

New Jersey Department of Health. Measles Information and Resources. NJ.gov.

New Jersey Department of Health. NJ Health Department Alerts Residents of New Potential Exposures From a Non-NJ Measles Case Who Visited a Medical Facility While Infectious. February 10, 2026. 

NJ1015. Measles Exposure Reported in New Brunswick.

The Daily Targum. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Alerts Residents of Measles Case, Potential Exposures. February 2026.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). About Measles. CDC.gov.

ABC7 New York. Newark Airport Passenger May Have Exposed Others to Measles, NJ Health Department Says. December 29, 2025.