MORRIS COUNTY, NJ — The New Jersey Department of Health issued a public health warning Friday, November 13, after confirming that an out-of-state resident infected with measles visited several locations in Morris County while contagious.
The person traveled through Whippany, Morris Plains and Morristown between November 6 and November 11, potentially exposing people at a convention, a hotel, a pharmacy and a hospital emergency department.
Health officials are urging anyone who visited the affected locations during the identified periods to monitor for symptoms and check their measles vaccination status.
Locations and Times of Possible Exposure
According to the Department of Health, potential exposure occurred at the following locations:
LegionsCon at Hanover Marriott
1401 Route 10 East, Whippany
- Friday, November 6, from 8:50 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Saturday, November 7, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Sonesta Simply Suites Parsippany Morris Plains
100 Candlewood Drive, Morris Plains
- November 6 at 9 p.m. through November 7 at noon
- November 7 at 5:45 p.m. through November 11 at 12:45 a.m.
Walgreens Pharmacy
203 South Street, Morristown
- Saturday, November 7, from 4:40 p.m. to 7:40 p.m.
Morristown Medical Center Emergency Department
100 Madison Avenue, Morristown
- November 10 at 10:50 p.m. through November 11 at 1:30 a.m.
The warning applies to people who were present at these locations during the specified times, not everyone who visited the businesses on other dates.
State health officials are working with local health departments to identify people who may have been exposed and determine whether additional locations need to be added to the advisory.
What Symptoms Should Residents Watch For?
Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an enclosed space, allowing others to become infected without direct contact.
Early symptoms typically include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
A distinctive rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms. It usually begins on the face near the hairline before spreading downward across the body.
Although many patients recover, measles can lead to serious complications, including pneumonia and inflammation of the brain. Young children, pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems face particular risks.
Anyone potentially exposed during the Morris County visits could develop symptoms as late as December 4, according to state officials.
What to Do if You May Have Been Exposed
The Department of Health is asking residents who believe they were exposed to contact a healthcare provider or local health department for guidance.
Anyone experiencing symptoms should call before visiting a doctor’s office, urgent care center or hospital emergency department.
Calling ahead allows medical personnel to arrange an evaluation while reducing the risk of exposing other patients and healthcare workers.
People who are not fully vaccinated or have no documented immunity should be especially cautious and follow public health guidance.
The department also recommends that residents check whether they have received the recommended measles, mumps and rubella vaccine doses.
Two doses of the MMR vaccine are approximately 97 percent effective at preventing measles infection.
New Jersey Has Reported Two Resident Cases in 2026
Before Friday’s warning, New Jersey had confirmed two measles cases among state residents in 2026, one in April and another in October.
The newly identified case involves a person who does not live in New Jersey but visited the state while infectious.
As of the November 13 announcement, health officials had not identified any additional New Jersey cases linked to this exposure.
The department said New Jersey was not experiencing a measles outbreak, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines as three or more related cases.
The warning comes amid a substantial nationwide increase in measles infections. According to CDC figures cited by the state, the United States had recorded 5,182 confirmed cases across 47 jurisdictions as of November 6, along with 43 new outbreaks reported during 2026.
New Jersey health officials are continuing contact tracing and monitoring for additional exposures.
Residents can find updates and public health guidance at nj.gov/health/measles.
Sources: New Jersey Department of Health, November 13, 2026; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Patch; ABC7 New York.
By NJ RADAR Team