TRENTON, N.J., April 28 (UPI) -- New Jersey health officials say a man sick with what appears to be measles may have exposed hundreds of people to the disease before he became ill.
The disease had not been confirmed as measles when the state Health Department made its announcement Wednesday. Officials said the man has symptoms consistent with the disease and had been exposed to a woman who arrived in New Jersey after being infected in Italy.
During the Easter weekend, the man visited a number of big box stores in Camden County in South Jersey. His stops included a Home Depot in West Cherry Hill, Walmart and Toys 'R' Us in Cherry Hill and Lowe's in Lawnside.
Public health officials urged people who suspect they may have measles to call a doctor before taking other steps like visiting an emergency room. That way they can avoid infecting others.
Europe is experiencing a measles epidemic, health officials say. The department is monitoring people possibly exposed to the disease in North Jersey after two French women developed measles following a trans-Atlantic trip.
