TRENTON — People who ate at a restaurant in Livingston on April 10 may have been exposed to the measles and should see their doctor, according to an announcement today by the state Department of Health and Senior Services. Patrons of the Eppes Essen restaurant on East Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m on...
People who ate at the Eppes Essen restaurant on East Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m April 10 may have been exposed to the measles and should see their doctor, according to an announcement today by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.TRENTON — People who ate at a restaurant in Livingston on April 10 may have been exposed to the measles and should see their doctor, according to an announcement today by the state Department of Health and Senior Services.
Patrons of the Eppes Essen restaurant on East Mount Pleasant Avenue in Livingston between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m on Sunday, April 10, could be at risk for contracting the contagious virus. The disease is spread through the air when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes, and in 20 percent of cases may cause serious illnesses, such as pneumonia and encephalitis.
"During that five-hour period, restaurant patrons may have been exposed to two young adult women from France who were attending a party there,'' according to the health department announcement. "The two, who were not vaccinated against measles, had been exposed to the viral illness before arriving in New Jersey on April 7.''
The French tourists sought treatment at Saint Clare’s Hospital in Denville on April 12 and 13. The two women, ages 21 and 23, have been treated and released, state health spokeswoman Donna Leusner said.
The hospital contacted the state on April 13, although state officials learned the name of the restaurant only "very recently,'' Leusner said.
"The Department has no lab confirmation of any other positive cases at this time,'' Leusner said.
Affected people would suffer from red rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes, but these symptoms might not be evident yet, the announcement said. Symptoms could emerge as late as May 1.
Measles is a rare occurrence because all children are vaccinated unless their families seek medical or religious exemptions. There were 2 cases reported in 2009; and one each year from 2006 to 2008. Data for 2010 were not available.
For more information, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s web site at www.cdc.gov/measles.