Search Results for “MEASLES” – Page 2

Will the Measles Spread Again After Mispallalim Return from Uman?

September 5, 2019 11:15 pm 9 Comments

Last winter a drastic increase in measles cases was documented both in Israel and the United States. According to information that was received by the Health Ministries in both Israel and the United States the disease was spread by those who contracted the disease during their stay in Rosh Hashanah in Uman visiting the gravesite of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. Additionally, two workers in the Oxford Medical clinic that was working in Uman last year, and this year will be run in partnership with United Hatzalah contracted measles while they were in Uman. After they returned to Israel it was discovered that they had contracted the disease and brought it back with them to Israel. It was also reported that the head of the Breslov Institutions in Tzefat (Safed) was hospitalized last year after he too contracted the disease while he was in Uman for Rosh Hashanah. Rabbi Koenig was hospitalized in Rambam Medical Center in Haifa and was in serious condition. Rabbi Yisrael Klein who heads the medical clinic in Uman also contracted the measles during his work at the clinic helping the thousands of people who had medical emergencies during the holiday last year, asked the public to vaccinate against the measles prior to their arrival in the city. As the area around Uman has also seen an outbreak of measles in recent months Israel’s Health Ministry has also asked the public to vaccinate against the measles before heading to Ukraine for the holiday. “People born in 1957 and onwards should have both measles vaccinations prior to their departure for Uman. Children over six months of age traveling abroad should receive at least one dose of the vaccine before traveling.” President and Founder of United Hatzalah Eli Beer also asked the public to vaccinate in order to avoid endangering others. “It is the protocol that all first responders involved in our organization must be fully vaccinated against the measles. However, with the thousands of visitors to the city of Uman over the holiday, I urge everyone to take upon themselves the responsibility of vaccinating before they come so as not to risk the lives of the other participants or their families when they return home. The outbreak of measles in New York and Israel, which both have been traced in part to people who spent the holiday in Uman in recent years has already cost the Jewish people dearly. It would be a tragedy that if someone who only wants to spend the holiday visiting the grave of Rebbe Nachman would be responsible for the avoidable death of innocent people.” *****SIGN UP NOW —- GET YOUR NEWS IN RECORD TIME***** Make sure you are one of the more than 22,000 that signed up to YWN WhatsApp Status to receive news in live time. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts***** (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

NYC Health Officials Say Measles Outbreak Has Ended

September 3, 2019 9:00 am No Comments

A measles outbreak concentrated in Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in New York City is over, meaning an emergency order mandating vaccines will be lifted, health officials said Tuesday. The officials said two incubation periods since the last reported cases have passed without any new infections. But city Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot cautioned that there’s still a threat from “one of the most contagious diseases on the face of the earth,” and urged New Yorkers to still get their children immunized before the start of the new school year. “Staying up to date on vaccines is the best way for people to protect the health and safety of their friends, family and neighbors,” Barbot said. The city has seen 654 cases of measles – the most in 30 years – since an outbreak mostly concentrated in the Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn began in October 2018, officials said. That prompted an emergency order mandating that nearly everyone in those neighborhoods get vaccinated or face possible fines. In June, state lawmakers revoked a religious exemption for mandatory school vaccinations amid the nation’s worst measles outbreak since 1992. More than 26,000 children in public and private schools and day care centers had previously gone unvaccinated for religious reasons, according to the state Health Department. New York became the fourth state, along with California, Mississippi and West Virginia, to eliminate religious and personal-belief exemptions for vaccines. All states allow medical exemptions. More than 1,200 cases of measles have been confirmed in 30 states this year with more than three-quarters of them linked to outbreaks in New York and New York City, the Centers for Disease Control reported. (AP)

Tosher Community in Canada Vaccinates 350 Children to Stop Measles Outbreak

August 26, 2019 6:04 pm 5 Comments

This week, about 350 children in the Tosh Hasidic community north of Montreal, Canada, were vaccinated against measles, according to a report by CJ News on August 22, 2019. This vaccination program was related to 5 cases of measles confirmed in Boisbriand, Quebec, during the summer of 2019. The director of public health for the region, Dr. Eric Goyer, stated that “these were the first cases of measles in the region since 2011.” Isaac Weiss, a spokesperson for Kiryas Tosh, said “the immunization was offered to those whose medical records showed they were unvaccinated or not up to date, but was voluntary.” Mr. Weiss theorized that the outbreak was due to someone’s visit to New York – where there was a measles outbreak recently. *****PLEASE NOTE – YWN IS GIVING AWAY $5,000 CASH – JUST SIGN UP TO FOLLOW YWN WHATSAPP STATUS AND GET THE DETAILS!***** Make sure you are one of the more than 20,000 that signed up to YWN WhatsApp Status to receive news in live time. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts***** He further stated that prior to the program, “90 to 95 percent of Tosh’s 500 families had their children vaccinated, and community leaders are urging all of its members to do so.” But, no one knows for sure how the measles infection spread. Tosh community leaders are informing members about the necessity of vaccinations and trying to dispel any fear about the risk of negative side effects. “Unvaccinated children will not be permitted to attend the community’s schools until the outbreak is deemed contained,” Weiss explained. Tosh is a chasidus originating in Nyirtass, Hungary, and is today based in Kiryas Tosh, outside of Boisbriand, a suburb of Montreal, Quebec. Tosher Chasidim have branches in the United States in Boro Park, Williamsburg, Kiryas Joel, and Monsey, and in London, England. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

43-Year-Old El Al Flight Attendant Infected with the Measles Dies

August 13, 2019 8:30 am 22 Comments

The 43-year-old El Al flight attendant who had contracted measles on a flight from New York to Israel in March, was unfortunately Niftar on Tuesday. The El Al flight attendant had been hospitalized in serious condition Kfar Sava since being infected. She was comatose and doctors fought over the months to save her life but on Tuesday, she was niftar in the hospital. When she arrived at Meir Hospital she was in an altered mental state and immediately admitted to an intensive care unit with the measles. The 43-year-old woman had encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, a well-known and potentially deadly complication of the measles virus. She was otherwise healthy before getting measles. The flight attendant arrived in Tel Aviv on flight 002 from JFK Airport in NYC on March 26, 2019. It appears there was someone on the flight who infected her. After it became known that she had been infected, Israel’s Health Ministry alerted all patients on that flight to report to a doctor if they need to be vaccinated and/if they have symptoms of measles. It is reported the flight attendant was partially vaccinated, only receiving the first of the two measles vaccinations. *****PLEASE NOTE: Make sure you are one of the more than 20,000 that signed up to YWN WhatsApp Status to receive news in live time. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts***** After her illness became known, El Al immediately began to have all its employees vaccinated. A 10-year-old boy remains in a coma at Schneider Medical Center in Petah Tikva with suspected brain damage and is attached to a ventilator, after similarly contracting measles. In November, an 18-month-old child in Yerushalyim was R”L Niftar of the disease. A month later, an 82-year-old woman became the second fatality. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Germany Introducing Mandatory Measles Vaccination For Kids

July 17, 2019 3:00 pm 5 Comments

The German government is proposing a measure to make measles vaccinations mandatory for children and employees of kindergartens and schools. Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet approved the plan Wednesday, noting the number of measles infections has risen significantly in recent years. Lawmakers in parliament, where Merkel’s governing coalition holds a majority, are expected to approve the law. In the phased-in program beginning in March, parents of school-aged children, starting at kindergarten, will have to provide proof of vaccination. Non-compliance means children will be refused admittance to kindergarten and their parents possibly fined. Parents of older students will be fined up to 2,500 euros ($2,803). The German news agency dpa reports that while 543 cases of measles were registered in Germany last year, there have been more than 400 cases this year already. (AP)

UPDATED: Confirmed Measles Exposure At Bungalow Colony In Monticello

July 14, 2019 5:15 pm 13 Comments

There have been a few measles cases in Sullivan County the past few weeks, YWN has confirmed. One of them was a confirmed exposure at Nachlei Emunah Bungalow Colony on Joyland Road. The measles case was confirmed last week some time. Health inspectors were at the summer vacation spot on Sunday, making sure that everyone was properly vaccinated. The other exposures were all single locations, meaning only one person at each, and not an outbreak. The Sullivan County Health Department spoke to YWN earlier on Sunday and said “Sullivan County Public Health staff and County officials are collaborating with NYS Dept of Health investigators regarding a confirmed case of measles at a bungalow colony outside of Monticello, to determine the immunity status of residents there and how many people may have been exposed, in order to ensure everyone is protected. The individual who had measles returned home (outside Sullivan County) some time ago.” Additional information will be updated when it becomes available. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Health Ministry Measles Alert For Dimona’s “Black Hebrews” Community

July 11, 2019 8:30 am 1 Comment

Israel’s Ministry of Health has issued a measles alert pertaining the Black Hebrews community located in Dimona, in southern Israel. The ministry explains that this community refuses to be vaccinated against measles, and this may endanger and infect other populations. The ministry wrote to the community leaders as well as sending message orally, warning the Dimona Municipality that it also tried putting pressure on the community of 2000 to get vaccinated, but to no avail. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

NYS Health Commissioner Howard Zucker’s Visits Catskills For “Measles Prevention Forum”

July 9, 2019 2:00 pm No Comments

RefuahHealth is pleased to kick-off the summer season with a visit from New York State Health Commissioner Howard Zucker, MD. The Commissioner spoke at a measles prevention forum in South Fallsburg on July 1st, and then answered questions from the community’s rabbinical leaders. The positive exchange of questions and answers highlighted measles prevention measures and the commitment of local and state officials in stemming the outbreak. Topics included identification of symptoms and prevention protocols. Attendees included 30 rabbinical leaders, New York State and Sullivan county officials, camp administrators, local Hatzolah and other community members. Rabbis and camp administrators expressed gratitude for Commissioner Zucker’s deep understanding and concern with the community’s wellbeing as well as his efforts to build a trusted relationship between local leaders and the NYS Department of Health. Commissioner Zucker recognized Refuah as an experienced leader in measles prevention and containment and highlighted the effective steps the organization is taking to keep patients safe during the summer months. The Commissioner toured Refuah’s South Fallsburg location and was specifically impressed by the site’s access control including a large entrance sign designed to prevent unnecessary exposure. RefuahHealth is grateful for the support of Dr. Zucker and looks forward to continued collaboration to strengthen the health of its patients and community. RefuahHealth continues to lead the way in containing the Rockland County measles outbreak. Since early October 2018, when Refuah treated the first diagnosed patient, the organization has made great strides in protecting it’s patients and the community from unnecessary exposure. These efforts include distributing over 4,000 MMRs, launching a community awareness campaign, and implementing clinical procedures to combat the highly contagious disease. During the summer months, Refuah will continue to provide the highest quality of care to all patients while minimizing exposure. Refuah is implementing proven strategies to protect individuals accessing care onsite or on one of Refuah’s mobile medical vans. Mobiles are staffed by experienced physicians well versed in measles prevention, and patients can expect the same high standard of care delivered in a safe environment. Refuah looks forward to spreading health this summer season. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Summer Camp Is Newest Front In Battle With Measles Outbreak

June 16, 2019 8:00 pm 2 Comments

The battle to contain the worst U.S. measles outbreak in 27 years has a new front: summer camp. Vaccinations have been made mandatory this summer for campers and staff in several counties north of New York City that annually fill up with kids from the Orthodox Jewish communities that have been hit hardest by measles. Ulster County took the extra step of mandating the measles vaccine or proof of immunity at all day camps and overnight camps, becoming the latest county in the area to issue immunization requirements. Rockland County announced a similar order this month, following mandates from Sullivan and Orange counties. “We have to make sure our t’s are crossed and our i’s are dotted in making sure all these vaccination records are in and have been fine-combed through to make sure everything is in compliance,” said Rabbi Hanoch Hecht, of Ulster County’s Camp Emunah, which hosts many girls from a Chabad community in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights. “In the past where we accepted religious exemptions for certain things,” said Hecht, who is getting his own blood checked for immunity, “now we cannot.” The state of New York requires summer camps to keep immunization records for all campers, but doesn’t bar children from attending if they haven’t gotten a measles shot. Children are required to get the measles vaccine to attend schools in New York, however, and Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed legislation Thursday eliminating an exemption for kids whose parents object to vaccinations on religious grounds. [YWN Editorial: Anti Vaxxers Aren’t The Only Ones Who Lost Today‎] The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, as of June 1, more than 1,000 measles cases had been reported in the U.S. since the start of the year, up from fewer than 100 cases a year a decade ago. The bulk of those cases have been diagnosed in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods in Brooklyn and suburban Rockland County. The CDC recommends everyone over a year old should get the vaccine, except for people who had the disease as children. Those who have had measles are immune. The vaccine, which became available in the 1960s, is considered safe and highly effective — paving the way for measles to be declared all but eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. But it has had a resurgence several times, including 667 cases in 2014. [Op-Ed: Unprecedented Chillul Hashem By Orthodox Jewish Anti-Vaxxers In Albany] Hecht and others stressed that vaccinations are widely accepted by most members of the Orthodox community, echoing rabbis in Brooklyn and Rockland County who say it is a relatively small group of parents influenced by anti-vaccination propaganda — not religious teachings — who have resisted inoculations. The Orthodox Union said it has previously required up-to-date vaccinations, including the MMR vaccine, for its 37 summer programs. “Most of the leaders and rabbis have taken the approach that vaccination is required,” Hecht said. Health officials in New York City have taken a tough approach, making measles vaccinations mandatory for everyone living in the Brooklyn neighborhood that is the epicenter of the outbreak, fining people for failing to get inoculated and closing 12 schools for failing to exclude staff and students who couldn’t document immunity. The city announced the two most recent closures Thursday. Now, as schools prepare to close down for the summer,

TWO MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Closed By Health Department Due To Measles

June 13, 2019 5:11 pm 4 Comments

The Health Department announced today that it has closed two schools in Williamsburg for failing to comply with an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak. UTA of Williamsburg – Yeshiva Torah V’Yirah (590 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, NY 11249) was closed today for failing to provide sufficient proof of immunity for a child who was present at the school and for allowing unvaccinated children and staff on site. UTA 212 (212 Williamsburg Street, Williamsburg, NY 11211) was closed for allowing 35 students who were either unvaccinated or did not have the required number of doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine to attend school. The schools will not be allowed to reopen until the Health Department reviews and approves a submitted corrective action plan that addresses the lapses in complying with the Commissioner’s Order. The Health Department had previously closed ten schools – including one of the programs closed today – for failing to comply with the Commissioner’s Order. This is the second time UTA of Williamsburg – Yeshiva Torah V’Yirah (590 Bedford Avenue) has been closed for violating the Commissioner’s Order. “The spread of measles may be slowing down but we are not,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “This is a message to all schools that have been ordered to exclude unvaccinated children — we will not stop our enforcement until the outbreak comes to an end. School staff must do their part to help us end this outbreak and keep New Yorkers safe. We also continue to urge everyone to get vaccinated to protect themselves, their families and their communities against measles.” Current Case Count To date, 588 cases of measles have been confirmed in New York City since the beginning of the outbreak last October. [Over 1000 cases confirmed nationwide, the highest count in 27 years.] 437 cases (74%) have occurred in the predominately Orthodox-Jewish communities in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles. Vaccination Progress Since the April 9 Emergency Order, 51,124 MMR vaccinations have been administered to children 6 months to 18 years citywide, a 38% increase when compared to the same time period last year. Of those immunizations, 3,844 vaccines were administered to children in Williamsburg, a 99% increase in that neighborhood compared to the same time period last year. The Health Department credits this increase in part to partnerships with community organizations and community leaders within the Orthodox Jewish community, who have not only encouraged vaccination, but have worked with the Health Department to organize vaccination clinics and vaccine education and awareness events. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [AND SO IT BEGINS: Sullivan County Locals Verbally Attack Orthodox Jews Over Measles] [NYC Closes ANOTHER Satmar Yeshiva in Williamsburg Due To Measles; Violations Issued As Well] [TOTAL BLOWOUT: 50 Anti-Vaxxers Show Up To Flatbush Event, 1,300 Empty Chairs] [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: U.S. Measles Count Surpasses 1000; Highest Level in Over 25 Years] [William Handler Set To Make ANOTHER Chillul Hashem at Anti-Vaxxer Event in Flatbush] [Message To All Those Attending

AND SO IT BEGINS: Sullivan County Locals Verbally Attack Orthodox Jews Over Measles

June 12, 2019 11:37 am 30 Comments

Tens of thousands of Orthodox Jews will be making their way to their summer homes and camps in Upstate NY in the next 3 weeks, and some locals are becoming vocal about their concerns that there is a measles outbreak in the community. YWN has received multiple reports over the past few weeks of local residents in Sullivan County making nasty comments towards Orthodox Jews about vaccination and measles. YWN has learned of incidents in Fallsburg, Woodridge, Walmart in Monticello, and most recently (over Shavuos) on a road in Kiamesha / Monticello. In all the incidents reported to YWN, Jews were either yelled at or cursed at – thanks to very small anti-vaxxer population. One person told YWN they were warned not to come upstate for the summer. On a local Sullivan County Facebook page, which has a long history of allowing anti-semitic comment to flow freely, the attached image was posted last week. As could be expected, the hateful comments about Jews, taxes, food stamps, and driving minivans upstate followed the post. Last month YWN reported that the Sullivan County Legislature has approved measles vaccination requirements for summer camps. It mandates that camp health directors verify that all their campers and staffers have presented appropriate evidence of immunity to measles, or have presented proof of a valid medical exemption. Any violations could result in a $2,000 fine being levied upon the camp, per violation, per day. Meanwhile, the Sullivan County Health Department says there may have been measles exposure at multiple locations, including Yeshiva of South Fallsburg, Vizhnitz (Gibbers), and Garden Terrace. Recently, a local resident penned a letter to the YWN readership regarding her son who received a heart transplant five years ago and is immunosuppressed. She pleads with the anti-vaxxers to take her son into consideration. YWN has confirmed that dozens of bungalow colonies and developments have sent letters to their residents demanding proof of vaccination or they will not be allowed into the premises for the summer months. All of these locations made this decision following consultation with leading Rabbonim. To date, 588 cases of measles have been confirmed in New York City since the beginning of the outbreak last October. [Over 1000 cases confirmed nationwide, the highest count in 27 years.] 437 cases (74%) have occurred in the predominately Orthodox-Jewish communities in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [NYC Closes ANOTHER Satmar Yeshiva in Williamsburg Due To Measles; Violations Issued As Well] [TOTAL BLOWOUT: 50 Anti-Vaxxers Show Up To Flatbush Event, 1,300 Empty Chairs] [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: U.S. Measles Count Surpasses 1000; Highest Level in Over 25 Years] [William Handler Set To Make ANOTHER Chillul Hashem at Anti-Vaxxer Event in Flatbush] [Message To All Those Attending Anti-Vaxxer Event in Flatbush Tonight: DRESS NICELY] [SUMMER CAMP CRACKDOWN: Sullivan County Gets Tough on Measles; $2,000 Daily Fines For Violations] [NOW THIS: Measles at Yeshiva of South Fallsburg & Vishnitz in Kiamisha] [MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles] [MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT:

NYC Closes ANOTHER Satmar Yeshiva in Williamsburg Due To Measles; Violations Issued As Well

June 11, 2019 8:00 pm 2 Comments

The NYC Health Department announced Tuesday that it has closed another school in Williamsburg for failing to comply with an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak. Central UTA Boys Division (762 Wythe Avenue, Williamsburg, NY 11249) was closed for failing to exclude staff and students who did not have documentation of immunity. The school also received violations for not having an adequate staff to student ratio and for not providing Health Department inspectors with vaccination and attendance records in the time allotted. The school will not be allowed to reopen until the Health Department reviews and approves a submitted corrective action plan that addresses the lapses in complying with the Commissioner’s Order. The Health Department had previously closed nine schools—not including the program shut today—for failing to comply with the Commissioner’s Order. After submitting a corrective action plan, all nine have been authorized to reopen under Health Department monitoring. “School staff, parents, and health care providers need to continue playing their role in bringing this outbreak to an end” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “We’ve seen our weekly case counts decline, but the reality is, this outbreak is not over, and the Health Department will continue to use all the resources and strategies available to us. We urge anyone who can get vaccinated to do so.” Current Case Count To date, 588 cases of measles have been confirmed in New York City since the beginning of the outbreak last October. [Over 1000 cases confirmed nationwide, the highest count in 27 years.] 437 cases (74%) have occurred in the predominately Orthodox-Jewish communities in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles. Vaccination Progress Since the April 9 Emergency Order, 51,124 MMR vaccinations have been administered to children 6 months to 18 years citywide, a 38% increase when compared to the same time period last year. Of those immunizations, 3,844 vaccines were administered to children in Williamsburg, a 99% increase in that neighborhood compared to the same time period last year. Individual Summonses In addition, 173 individuals have received summonses for being non-compliant with the Emergency Order since the City began issuing summonses last week. 68 of those have been cancelled as the individual presented proof of immunity or got vaccinated. Any person receiving the summons is entitled to a hearing, and if the hearing officer upholds the summons, a $1,000 penalty will be imposed. Failing to appear at the hearing or respond to the summons will result in a $2,000 fine. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: U.S. Measles Count Surpasses 1000; Highest Level in Over 25 Years] [SUMMER CAMP CRACKDOWN: Sullivan County Gets Tough on Measles; $2,000 Daily Fines For Violations] [NOW THIS: Measles at Yeshiva of South Fallsburg & Vishnitz in Kiamisha] [MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles] [MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT: Satmar, Scheiners, Rockland Kosher, Vishnitz, Chofetz Chaim, Costco] [Williamsburg Satmar Kehilla Condemns Handler’s Remarks at Anti-Vax Event; Rebbe Says Everyone MUST Vaccinate] [MAILBAG:

MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: U.S. Measles Count Surpasses 1000; Highest Level in Over 25 Years

June 5, 2019 6:45 pm 4 Comments

Health officials say this year’s U.S. measles epidemic has surpassed 1,000 illnesses. It’s already the highest in 27 years. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the count Wednesday, saying 1,001 illnesses have been reported since the beginning of the year. Most are from outbreaks in New York in Orthodox Jewish communities. The nation last saw this many cases in 1992, when more than 2,200 were reported. Once common in the U.S., measles became rare after vaccination campaigns that started in the 1960s. A decade ago, there were fewer than 100 cases a year. Overall vaccination rates have remained fairly high, but outbreaks have been happening in communities where parents have refused recommended shots for their children. “What’s causing these outbreaks is lack of vaccination,” said Dr. Mark Roberts, chair of health policy and management at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health. Illnesses have been reported in 26 states, but the vast majority are in New York City. The city’s outbreak, which began last October, is already the largest local measles outbreak in the U.S. in nearly 30 years. It started when some unvaccinated children visited Israel, where a measles outbreak is occurring, and came back to New York. More than 500 cases have been diagnosed in two Brooklyn neighborhoods – Williamsburg and Borough Park – and mainly among unvaccinated children in Orthodox Jewish communities. Forty-two have been hospitalized, including 12 treated in intensive care units. More than 25,000 doses of vaccine have been given to children and teenagers in those two neighborhoods since October. Some have been motivated by a city order issued in April that all children and adults who live in four Brooklyn ZIP codes be vaccinated or face fines up to $1,000. City officials say 123 people have received summonses for not complying with the order. The city health department has put 400 people to work on the outbreak, and forged new relationships with community organizations to make a better case for vaccinations. The officials believe it’s all paying off. New measles diagnoses dropped from 173 last month to 60 this month. “I’m confident that the work that we have put in place … put us on the right trajectory to bring this outbreak to an end soon,” said Dr. Oxiris Barbot, New York City’s health commissioner. Some health experts see the current outbreak as a sign that other vaccine-preventable illnesses could worsen. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [MEASLES OUTBREAK GROWS: There Are Now 550 Cases in NYC – Most Are in Williamsburg] [SUMMER CAMP CRACKDOWN: Sullivan County Gets Tough on Measles; $2,000 Daily Fines For Violations] [MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles] [MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT: Satmar, Scheiners, Rockland Kosher, Vishnitz, Chofetz Chaim, Costco] [Williamsburg Satmar Kehilla Condemns Handler’s Remarks at Anti-Vax Event; Rebbe Says Everyone MUST Vaccinate] [MAILBAG: Sullivan County Resident Has Message To Jewish Anti-Vaxxers Heading Upstate This Summer] [MAILBAG: The Measles Crisis Will Reach Unheralded Proportions This Summer] [NYC Health Dept Closes ANOTHER Yeshiva; Measles Outbreak STILL Growing] [WATCH: CNN Interviews Hasidic Business Owner From Monsey About Measles; New Cases SOAR in Williamsburg] [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined

NOW THIS: Measles at Yeshiva of South Fallsburg & Vishnitz in Kiamisha

June 4, 2019 10:00 pm 6 Comments

The Sullivan County Public Health Department is notifying the public of possible exposures to individuals who recently tested positive for measles. Sullivan County now has five (5) confirmed cases since March and two additional suspect cases. Residents may have been exposed if they were at the following location on May 16, 2019 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m., or between May 25-June 2, 2019: Gibbers-Viznitz (168 Yeshiva Drive – Kiamesha Lake, NY 12751) Residents may have been exposed if they were at the following location between May 14-22, 2019, or between May 25-June 3, 2019: (An investigation is ongoing at this location to determine possible exposures): Yeshiva Gedolah Zichron Moshe (84 Laurel Park Road 0 South Fallsburg, NY 12779) Residents may have been exposed if they were at the following location on May 18, 2019 between 12:30 and 2:30 p.m.: Garden Terrace (221 Laurel Ave – Fallsburg, NY 12733) Two confirmed contagious individuals have been quarantined via a mandatory isolation order issued by the Public Health Director. Public Health Services staff continue to closely monitor the situation. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

No Cost Measles Immunity Testing In Flatbush = Peace of Mind

June 4, 2019 8:15 pm 5 Comments

Senator Felder is sponsoring two no-cost Measles Titers Immunity Tests as part of an ongoing effort to stop the spread of measles. Since October, there have been 550 confirmed cases of measles in New York City. While the outbreak has been mostly concentrated in certain areas, the summer brings a new challenge. In partnership with Premium Health in Boro Park and New York Community Hospital in Flatbush, Senator Felder is calling on the community to take this opportunity to check their immunity to measles before the summer travel season. Flatbush: Wednesday, June 5, 10 AM – 1 PM Boro Park: Thursday, June 13, 10 AM – 1 PM Appointments required, please call 718-253-2015 “Measles is highly contagious. Once exposed, you could spread the virus days before showing signs of having contracted it. The Department of Health recommends confirming your immunity level with a titers test, so that people with diminished immunity can protect themselves with a vaccination. We are happy to offer you this simple blood test, at no cost, to confirm your immunity. Stay healthy, and help stop the spread of measles,” urges Senator Felder. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

MEASLES OUTBREAK GROWS: There Are Now 550 Cases in NYC – Most Are in Williamsburg

May 29, 2019 5:45 pm 2 Comments

The city’s ongoing measles outbreak has spread from Brooklyn into other boroughs, with cases now confirmed in Manhattan and Staten Island, the city’s Health Department announced Wednesday. Since October, the city has seen 550 confirmed cases of the virus, with the majority being documented in Williamsburg, according to the Health Department. The agency, however, said they now have confirmation of one case in Manhattan and seven cases in Staten Island. Of these cases identified citywide, seven are Staten Island residents and another lives in Manhattan. Six of the Staten Island cases date back to March with an exposure in Rockland County, New York where there is ongoing measles activity. These cases were only reported recently by a health care provider because these individuals came to care after their illnesses resolved. The one remaining case in Staten Island is linked to Sunset Park, Brooklyn where there is ongoing measles activity. In addition, a Manhattan resident has been diagnosed with measles, which is also due to an exposure in Sunset Park. There are no known transmissions linked to these eight cases. The majority of cases (77%) have occurred in the Williamsburg neighborhood (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order since April 9, requiring people who reside or work in these ZIP codes to be vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. There have been 42 measles-related hospitalizations and 12 admissions to intensive care units due to measles complications since the beginning of the outbreak in October. “The recently identified cases are linked to exposures in neighborhoods with known measles activity,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “These cases prove the urgent need to get vaccinated, especially if you spend time in areas that are experiencing an outbreak. This message cannot be overstated — if you live, work or attend school in these sections of the city, get vaccinated if you are able. We thank the thousands of people throughout the city who have gotten vaccinated. Each one of you has taken a critical step to protect your family, your neighbors and yourselves.” The six of the individuals from Staten Island were exposed in Rockland County.. Exposures have been identified in Sunset Park, Brooklyn and, as of May 28, 2019, there have been 12 confirmed cases in the neighborhood. Last week, the Health Department added Sunset Park to the list of areas in NYC with measles activity that have expanded vaccination recommendations for people who live, work, or spend time in this area of the City. Recommendations include two doses of MMR for adults without documentation of vaccination, an extra, early dose of MMR for infants ages 6 to 11 months and an early dose of MMR for children ages 1 to 4 years following the routine dose at 12 months of age, as long as 28 days have passed since the last dose. The Health Department continues enhanced city-wide surveillance for measles to identify and address any measles transmission. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [SUMMER CAMP CRACKDOWN: Sullivan County Gets Tough on Measles; $2,000 Daily Fines For Violations] [MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles] [MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT: Satmar, Scheiners, Rockland Kosher, Vishnitz, Chofetz Chaim, Costco] [Williamsburg Satmar Kehilla Condemns Handler’s Remarks at Anti-Vax Event; Rebbe Says Everyone MUST Vaccinate] [MAILBAG: Sullivan County

SUMMER CAMP CRACKDOWN: Sullivan County Gets Tough on Measles; $2,000 Daily Fines For Violations

May 28, 2019 4:05 pm 5 Comments

The Sullivan County Legislature today unanimously approved Public Health Order No. 1 of 2019, which empowers the County’s Department of Public Health Services to require full measles immunization for staff members and campers at summer camps in the County. The Order, was created in the wake of the downstate measles outbreak and applies to all camps regulated by the NYS Department of Health (NYSDOH). “We are taking a proactive approach, even though we’ve only had two measles cases thus far,” said District 2 Legislator Nadia Rajsz, chair of the Legislature’s Health & Family Services Committee. “This is another step of many we’ve taken to ensure our residents and visitors enjoy the summer while staying protected from this contagious disease.” “This Order, effective through September 15, mandates that camp health directors verify all their campers and staffers have presented appropriate evidence of immunity to measles, or have presented proof of a valid medical exemption,” explained Public Health Director Nancy McGraw. “It also requires the camp operator to screen campers and staff members for measles upon arrival to camp, and to find out from parents/guardians of campers whether each camper has had any possible exposure to measles within the last three weeks.” Should these requirements not be met, the camp operator must not permit the camper or staffer to attend camp. And if a measles case presents itself during the course of the camp’s season, the operator or health director must immediately inform Public Health Services. Records must be maintained, as well, and both Public Health Services and NYSDOH have the authority to review that documentation upon demand. Should violations be found, a $2,000 fine per violation per day can be levied upon the camp. “In close collaboration with the State, we are taking every possible action to avoid a measles outbreak in Sullivan County in the coming months,” noted Health & Family Services Commissioner Joe Todora. “This is the latest in a long line of measures we’ve taken, and we’ve found camp leaders eager to comply. This Order allows us to responsibly ensure enforcement, so as to minimize the further spread of measles.” READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles] [MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT: Satmar, Scheiners, Rockland Kosher, Vishnitz, Chofetz Chaim, Costco] [Williamsburg Satmar Kehilla Condemns Handler’s Remarks at Anti-Vax Event; Rebbe Says Everyone MUST Vaccinate] [MAILBAG: Sullivan County Resident Has Message To Jewish Anti-Vaxxers Heading Upstate This Summer] [MAILBAG: The Measles Crisis Will Reach Unheralded Proportions This Summer] [NYC Health Dept Closes ANOTHER Yeshiva; Measles Outbreak STILL Growing] [WATCH: CNN Interviews Hasidic Business Owner From Monsey About Measles; New Cases SOAR in Williamsburg] [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined at JFK Airport Over Suspected Measles-Infected Orthodox Jewish Passengers] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [WATCH: Trump Urges Vaccinations To Prevent Spread Of Measles] [US Measles Outbreak is Largest Since Disease Was Declared ‘Eliminated’; 2 Pregnant Women Sickened in Williamsburg] [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: US Measles Cases Top 700, Leading to Extraordinary Measures Around The Country] [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’

MAJOR MONSEY MEASLES EXPOSURE ALERT: Satmar, Scheiners, Rockland Kosher, Vishnitz, Chofetz Chaim, Costco

May 24, 2019 2:15 pm 3 Comments

With the continued measles outbreak in Rockland, County Executive Ed Day and County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert remind residents of the importance of getting vaccinated. As of May 24, there are 247 confirmed reported cases of measles in the county since the outbreak began in October 2018. Measles is one of the most contagious viruses on earth; 90% of unvaccinated people exposed to the virus become infected. You can catch measles just by being in a room where a person with measles has been, up to 2 hours after that person is gone. You can catch measles from an infected person even before they have a measles rash. Due to Rockland County’s small geographic size, exposure to the measles may occur anywhere in Rockland. Anyone who visited the following locations or used the following taxis at these times may have been exposed to measles: • Satmar of Monsey, located at 1 Monsey Boulevard, Monsey, NY 10952, from Monday, May 6 through Tuesday, May 14 with an ongoing risk of exposure. • Congregation Yetev Lev of Satmar, located at 13 Monsey Boulevard, Monsey, NY 10952, from Monday, May 6 through Tuesday, May 14 with an ongoing risk of exposure. • Rockland Kosher Supermarket, located in the Shoppers Haven Mall, 27 Orchard Street, Monsey, NY 10952, on Monday, May 13 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 9:00 pm. • Congregation Khal Torath Chaim Viznitz, located at 25 Phyllis Terrace, Monsey, NY 10952, from Sunday, May 12 until Sunday, May 19 with an ongoing risk of exposure. • Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, located at 20 Forshay Road, Monsey, NY 10952, on Wednesday, May 15, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 7:00 pm. • Bais Medrash Ohr Chaim, located at 20 Forshay Road, Monsey, NY 10952, on Thursday, May 16, from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 7:00 pm. • Synagogue Yeshiva Chovetz Chaim, located at 51 Kiryas Radin Drive, Spring Valley, NY 10977, on Wednesday, May 15, from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 3:00 pm. • Synagogue Yeshiva Chovetz Chaim, located at 51 Kiryas Radin Drive, Spring Valley, NY 10977, on Thursday, May 16, from 9:45 am to 1:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 3:00 pm. • Maple Medex Pharmacy inside Evergreen Kosher Market, located at 59 Route 59, Monsey, NY 10952, on Thursday, May 16, from 12:40 pm to 3:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 5:00 pm. • Costco, located at 50 Overlook Blvd, Nanuet, NY 10954, on Thursday, May 16 from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 11:00 pm. Taxis: • La Familia Taxi on Monday, May 13, roundtrip to Rockland Kosher Supermarket, from 3:30 pm to 4:00 pm with a risk of exposure until 6:00 pm, and from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm with a risk of exposure until 9:30 pm. • La Familia Taxi on Sunday, May 19, to Refuah Health Center located at 728 N. Main Street, Spring Valley, NY 10977, from 4:30 pm to 5:00 pm, with a risk of exposure until 7:00 pm. These times reflect the period that the infected individuals were in these areas and a two-hour period after they

MAILBAG: A Family’s Nightmare of a Young Child With Measles

May 24, 2019 8:00 am 38 Comments

The last day of Yom Tov should have been a wonderful ending to a beautiful Pesach in Israel. Instead, it turned into a nightmare no parent should have to experience. Yehudah Yosef, at the time 11.5 months, had been feverish and coughing for a few days. On Shabbos morning, he woke up with a scorching fever; pimples encased his tongue, and he had difficulty breathing. We rushed him to the hospital, where doctors suspected meningitis, fearing the worst. At the time, Yehuda was lethargic and completely unresponsive. The spinal tap came back clear, and a urine and blood test confirmed a diagnosis of measles. He was scheduled to have been vaccinated the week after Pesach, and must have been exposed to a contagious individual weeks prior… Yehudah Yosef was treated at Sharei Zedek hospital in Jerusalem. The man who saved his life is Prof. Dr. Yechiel Schlessinger, head of pediatrics and an infectious disease doctor by training, and we owe him tremendous gratitude. “This innocent baby suffered unbelievable pain through no fault of his own. Take pictures, show the world what measles can do to a innocent child.” This was the edict of Prof. Dr. Schlessinger. Attached are pictures of Yehudah Yosef before the measles struck, and how he looked during his stay at the hospital. (SEE BELOW) Yehuda Yosef’s case was very complicated with infections in his lungs and ears. He was on Oxygen, steroids, antibiotics, and IV fluids. We feared possible long-term consequences of the complications, such as hearing loss. B’chasdei Hashem, and thanks to the incredible staff at Sharei Zedek, he was released after 10 days of hospitalization. He is still on antibiotics for lingering infections. Endless tears were shed and tefillos said for this beautiful little boy whose life hung in the balance. We are certain that Hakodosh Baruch Hu restored his health in the merit of the many who davened and stormed the heavens for his complete refuah. Measles is an illness which had been eradicated for decades. It is incredibly contagious, and can be fatal–especially for young children. Please, please, get your children & grandchildren vaccinated! Check your own immunity with a blood titer test. Do not let your innocent children and grandchildren suffer the fate that Yehudah Yosef and his family had to endure. With thanks to all our friends and families and most of all, to the Ribono Shel Olam, The Cassell and Engelberg Families NOTE: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of YWN. DO YOU HAVE AN OPINION YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE POSTED ON YWN? SEND IT TO US FOR REVIEW.

Measles Continues To Spread But Israel’s Health Ministry May Cancel School Vaccinations

May 23, 2019 7:30 am No Comments

Israel’s Ministry of Health is weighing the cancelation of the measles vaccination program in the nation’s schools due to a critical shortage of manpower, Yediot Achronot reported on Wednesday. According to the report, the ministry has a comprehensive vaccination program for students, but due to a critical shortage of school nurses, the ministry is not only weighing not to expand the program but canceling it altogether. The measles vaccination program was introduced to the schools over two years ago by order of Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman. The vaccinations were given by nurses operating in the public health sector. They delivered the vaccines during the first two months of the school year to students needing it. The program was hailed a great success as the number of vaccinated students shot up from under 11% to about 50%. A recent letter sent by a public health official to a number of doctors serving as district heads, it states “Due to the heavy demand on the student healthcare system on the one hand, and the critical shortage of nurses on the other hand, it has been decided not to expand the vaccination program this year”. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Measles Scare at Meron Medical Clinic Declared ‘FAKE NEWS’

May 22, 2019 7:15 pm 1 Comment

On Wednesday evening, President and Founder of United Hatzalah Eli Beer addressed the rumors, spread earlier in the day on various social media platforms, regarding a measles outbreak at the organization’s clinic in Meron. The outbreak, which the Ministry of Health denied reporting, was spread across various social media and mainstream media platforms, and according to the Health Ministry, was a complete fabrication and an illegal act. Beer told YWN: “After receiving conflicting reports on social media regarding a measles outbreak at our clinic in Meron, our Dispatchers together with our Medical Division and the teams in the field investigated the rumors and found that no such outbreak or scare occurred in the United Hatzalah clinic in Meron.” “We contacted the Health Ministry, who supposedly issued the statement and they said that no such statement had been issued by the Ministry. They then sent out a statement clearly stating that the claims of a measles outbreak were fabricated and that it is against the law to make such statements. in a public forum,” Beer added. “It appears that whoever started these rumors wanted to harm the work of United Hatzalah and scare people who were celebrating at Meron into not coming to our clinic for much needed medical attention. The people they hurt the most are those who need help in Meron itself. This is appalling and I cannot fathom someone spreading fear to prevent a person in need of medical attention from going to receive help. This is fake news at its worst,” Beer concluded. United Hatzolah has around 500 hundred volunteers in Meron – support their life-saving work! by clicking here! The Health Ministry issued a statement, which was picked up by numerous news agencies in Israel and posted to Twitter said the following: משרד הבריאות: "בשעות האחרונות הגיעו למשרד הבריאות הודעות בדויות, שפורסמו גם ברשתות החברתיות, בנוגע לחשיפה, כביכול, לחצבת בהילולה במירון. המשרד מבקש להבהיר שהוא הגורם היחיד המוסמך לפרסם מידע בנוגע לחשיפה לחצבת. גורמים שיפרסמו מידע כוזב עוברים על החוק"@VeredPelman — כאן חדשות (@kann_news) May 22, 2019 “In the past few hours, false reports that were publicized on social media channels, regarding an outbreak of Measles amid the celebrations at Meron, reached the offices of the Health Ministry. The Ministry wishes to clarify that it is the only entity qualified to issue any statement regarding the spread of and exposure to Measles. Those who publicized this fraudulent and deceitful information has broken the law.” Earlier in the day, the fake news had reached major news websites including some Charedi websites and was published erroneously. The statement from the Health Ministry was aimed at correcting the misinformation on such an important matter. ***NOTE: YWN is covering Lag B’omer festivities in Meron and around the globe and posting pictures and videos in live time on our WhatsApp status. Click this link – or send a message to 1-888-4-YW-NEWS (888-499-6397) – to see our status posts**** [WATCH MERON LIVE HERE: Lag B’Omer at Kever Rashbi; Schedule of Events – LIVE UPDATES] (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Rockland County Executive Ed Day Requests Trump’s Help To Stop Measles Outbreak

May 20, 2019 5:00 pm 9 Comments

Rockland County Executive Ed Day wrote to President Donald Trump requesting that an Executive Order be issued or laws be passed to require that visitors from other countries present certification of appropriate immunization before being allowed entry to the United States. Before U.S. citizens travel to other countries it is strongly recommended that they receive certain vaccinations depending on the country they are visiting. “I want the federal government to implement procedure that will demand presentation of immunization records to travelers coming into this country,” Day said. Rockland County’s measles outbreak began when seven travelers from overseas visited while they were infected with measles. These seven people were the flashpoint for Rockland’s outbreak which has led to multiple hospitalizations in intensive care units and even an infant being born prematurely. There are currently 233 confirmed cases of measles since the outbreak began in Rockland in October of 2018 with many more cases going unreported. The letter is attached below. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NYC Health Dept Closes Yeshiva of Central Queens; Measles Outbreak STILL Growing

May 13, 2019 11:15 pm 18 Comments

The NYC Health Department announced Monday that it has closed Yeshiva of Central Queens for failing to comply with an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak. The Health Department said on May 9 it had ordered the Yeshiva (located at 147-37 70th Road in Flushing) to prevent unvaccinated students from attending class for 21 days, following a known measles exposure at the school. Yeshiva of Central Queens (YCQ) will not be allowed to reopen until the Health Department reviews and approves a submitted corrective action plan that addresses the lapses in complying with the ban on unvaccinated students. YCQ is the 9th school closed in the city during the current outbreak, though the first one not located in Brooklyn. The previous 8 schools, most of them Yeshivas in Williamsburg, have been authorized to reopen under Health Department monitoring after submitting a corrective action plan that was approved by the Department. It comes as the city struggles to contain the nation’s worst measles outbreak in a generation. Health officials announced that the tally of infections kept climbing last week, hitting a new high of 498. More than three-quarters of the cases, 399, are in the ultra-Orthodox community of Williamsburg, Brooklyn where vaccination rates are below normal. In addition to closing schools, the city announced it has now issued summons to 98 individuals for being non-compliant with the city’s Emergency Order on mandatory vaccinations. Any person receiving the summons is entitled to a hearing, and if the hearing officer upholds the summons, a $1,000 penalty will be imposed. Failing to appear at the hearing or respond to the summons will result in a $2,000 fine. Additionally, U.S. health officials announced Monday that this year’s count of measles cases nationwide has reached 839, the most since 1994, when 963 were reported for the entire year. (There are still more than 7 months in 2019.) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxbcrCeg4Rc/ In all, 23 states have reported cases this year. The vast majority of illnesses have been in New York — most of them among unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. That pattern continued last week, with most of the 75 new cases coming from New York State. Measles was once common in the U.S. but gradually became rare after vaccination campaigns that started in the 1960s. “In order to prevent outbreaks in new areas of the City we need parents to get their children vaccinated and schools to exclude children who are not up to date with the measles vaccine. We continue to urge unvaccinated New Yorkers to get vaccinated against measles as soon as possible,” said NYC Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. READ MORE MEASLES COVERAGE: [MAILBAG: Sullivan County Resident Has Message To Jewish Anti-Vaxxers Heading Upstate This Summer] [WATCH: CNN Interviews Hasidic Business Owner From Monsey About Measles; New Cases SOAR in Williamsburg] [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined at JFK Airport Over Suspected Measles-Infected Orthodox Jewish Passengers] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [MAILBAG: The Measles Crisis Will Reach Unheralded Proportions This Summer] [WATCH: Trump Urges Vaccinations To Prevent Spread Of Measles] [US

MORE ACTION: NYC Health Dept Closes ANOTHER Williamsburg School Over Measles

May 8, 2019 7:15 pm 4 Comments

The NYC Health Department today served closure orders to “Simche Kinder” located in Williamsburg at 812 Myrtle Ave. There are 77 children enrolled in this school. The Health Dept says they did this because “this center repeatedly failed to comply with an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak”. This is the eight school closed in Williamsburg, most of which have been Yeshivas. The previous schools were authorized to reopen under Health Department monitoring after submitting a corrective action plan that was approved by the Department. The Health Department is working with parents to find alternative care for the children that attended the program, and says that this site will not be allowed to reopen until staff can demonstrate to the Health Department that they can comply with the order. The Health Department says they will continue to conduct audits of schools to ensure these centers have comprehensive attendance and immunization records, and that they’re properly excluding. The Department says that everyone must do their part to keep children safe and to help us end this outbreak. READ MORE: [WATCH: CNN Interviews Hasidic Business Owner From Monsey About Measles; New Cases SOAR in Williamsburg] [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Closes 6th & 7th Williamsburg Yeshivas Due to Measles; 57 Summonses Issued to Unvaccinated Individuals] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined at JFK Airport Over Suspected Measles-Infected Orthodox Jewish Passengers] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [WATCH: Trump Urges Vaccinations To Prevent Spread Of Measles] [US Measles Outbreak is Largest Since Disease Was Declared ‘Eliminated’; 2 Pregnant Women Sickened in Williamsburg] [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: US Measles Cases Top 700, Leading to Extraordinary Measures Around The Country] [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg] [ANOTHER GENIUS: Watch This Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer “Community Activist” Give Media Interview] [WATCH THIS: Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer Mothers Give Media Shocking Interview] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Health Dept Closes THREE MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Due To Measles; Fines Parents] [NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Community Organizations Collaborate To Provide Free Measles Vaccinations To Affected NYC Areas

May 8, 2019 1:00 pm 3 Comments

Agudath Israel of America, in conjunction with Hatzolah of Borough Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg, and other community organizations and health care providers, is pursuing a coordinated, community-wide effort in New York City to make measles vaccinations available. In light of the ongoing outbreak, vaccinations will be made available with no fee, appointment, or insurance required. The events will take place simultaneously at Hatzolah garages in Borough Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg on Sunday, May 12th, 3-9 PM. A component of this effort is to inform. The CDC and NYC Department of Health are now recommending that infants in outbreak areas receive their first MMR vaccination at 6 months old and receive the second dose at an accelerated schedule prior to 4 years old, to ensure they are protected. Also, those born between 1957 and 1989, when medical practice was to administer only one MMR dose, may not be protected. It is recommended that such individuals either perform a blood test to determine immunity status or simply receive a second dose. Individuals may speak to your doctor for specific guidance. The immunocompromised, pregnant (or those who might be), highly allergic, and those who recently received blood transfusions or other vaccines, should ask their doctor prior to vaccinating. The Agudah thanks the Hatzolahs of Borough Park, Flatbush, and Williamsburg; Boro Park Jewish Community Council; Flatbush Jewish Community Council; United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg (UJO); Maimonides Medical Center, NYU Langone Health, and the New York Community Hospital for partnering to make this endeavor happen. May we all be gezunt. Locations below: Hatzolah of Boro Park New Garage 3701 14th Ave Hatzoloh of Williamsburg 518 Park Ave Hatzoloh of Flatbush 1880 Ocean Ave Relatedly, Achiezer and Hatzalah of Nassau County, JCCRP, YIW, Kamin Health, Mount Sinai, and South Nassau Communities Hospital have partnered to offer measles immunity status testing in Woodmere to anyone appropriate for testing: YIW 859 Peninsula Blvd, Woodmere, NY 11598 Sunday, May 12th 10AM – 2PM (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WATCH: CNN Interviews Hasidic Business Owner From Monsey About Measles; New Cases SOAR in Williamsburg

May 7, 2019 5:45 pm 12 Comments

According to the NYC Health Department, as of today, 466 cases of measles have been confirmed since the beginning of the outbreak last October. 379 cases (81%) have occurred in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR). There have been 34 hospitalizations and nine admissions to the ICU due to complications. A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles. The Health Department today identified three additional cases outside the affected neighborhoods of Williamsburg and Borough Park, Brooklyn. These cases occurred in persons living in Sunset Park, Brooklyn who do not identify as members of the Orthodox Jewish community. Two of these cases occurred in students who attend New York City public schools; both students had a religious exemption that allows them to attend school without being vaccinated. These individuals did not attend school while infectious. All three of these cases reported spending time in areas of NYC with known measles activity. In addition, 84 individuals have received summonses for being non-compliant with the Emergency Order in zip codes 11205, 11206, 11211, and 11249 since the City began issuing summonses in mid-April. Any person receiving the summons is entitled to a hearing, and if the hearing officer upholds the summons, a $1,000 penalty will be imposed. Failing to appear at the hearing or respond to the summons will result in a $2,000 fine. Meanwhile, Shimon Singer from Rockland County was interviewed on CNN in the attached video. Singer owns Turtle Boo, an indoor children’s play center in nearby Spring Valley. Over the past three months, about 40 families have canceled birthday parties because of a fear of measles. He added that there have been no confirmed cases of measles at his facility. READ MORE: [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Closes 6th & 7th Williamsburg Yeshivas Due to Measles; 57 Summonses Issued to Unvaccinated Individuals] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined at JFK Airport Over Suspected Measles-Infected Orthodox Jewish Passengers] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [WATCH: Trump Urges Vaccinations To Prevent Spread Of Measles] [US Measles Outbreak is Largest Since Disease Was Declared ‘Eliminated’; 2 Pregnant Women Sickened in Williamsburg] [MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: US Measles Cases Top 700, Leading to Extraordinary Measures Around The Country] [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg] [ANOTHER GENIUS: Watch This Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer “Community Activist” Give Media Interview] [WATCH THIS: Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer Mothers Give Media Shocking Interview] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Health Dept Closes THREE MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Due To Measles; Fines Parents] [NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

US Measles Count Rises To 764, Driven By New York Outbreaks

May 6, 2019 6:00 pm No Comments

U.S. health officials say at least 60 more measles cases have been reported, increasing a 2019 tally that is already the highest in 25 years. Officials on Monday said 764 cases have been reported as of last Thursday. It’s the most in the U.S. since 1994, when 963 were reported. New York has had the most illnesses this year, by far. Last week’s cases included 41 in New York City and 11 in nearby Rockland County. Most were unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. In all, 23 states have reported cases this year. The latest to join the list is Pennsylvania. Measles was once common but gradually became rare after a vaccination campaigns that started in the 1960s. (AP)

Germany Mulls Fines To Boost Measles Vaccination Rates

May 5, 2019 9:00 pm 2 Comments

Germany’s health minister is proposing fines for parents of school-age children who haven’t been vaccinated for measles amid concern that the highly contagious and potentially deadly disease could make a comeback. In an interview published Sunday with German weekly Bild am Sonntag, minister Jens Spahn said parents who can’t prove their children have been vaccinated for measles should have to pay up to 2,500 euros ($2,790). The minister also proposed that children without measles vaccinations be banned from going to daycare facilities, to protect others who are too young or medically unable to receive a measles immunization. Compulsory medical procedures, including vaccinations, are a politically sensitive issue in Germany and it’s unclear whether Spahn’s proposal, which has yet to be discussed by Cabinet, will be implemented. But worries that a disease once thought under control could re-emerge as a major threat has experts calling for vaccinations to be stepped up. The head of the German Medical Association, Frank Ulrich Montgomery, on Sunday welcomed Spahn’s proposal, telling Germany’s RND media group that it was “an important step at the right time.” Germany had 203 reported cases of measles in the first 10 weeks of 2019, more than twice as many as in the same period last year but fewer than in 2017. Neighboring Switzerland last week reported two adult deaths from measles this year: one in an unvaccinated man of about 30 and another in a man of about 70 whose immune system had been compromised by cancer. Experts generally say if more than 95% of the population is properly immunized, measles cannot spread easily and is effectively contained. But pockets of unvaccinated children or adults can cause flare-ups, as has recently been the case in the United States , which has over 700 cases this year in an outbreak that has not been halted. According to the World Health Organization, Europe as a whole had 82,596 cases of measles last year and 72 measles deaths. Most of those infections — 53,218 — were recorded in Ukraine, where an armed conflict with separatists is hurting medical care in its eastern regions. Popular European tourist destinations such as France and Italy had more than 2,400 measles cases each from March 2018 to February 2019, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, an EU agency. Greece had more than 1,400 measles cases and Britain reported over 900 during that time. (AP)

MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: US Measles Cases Top 700, Leading to Extraordinary Measures Around The Country

April 29, 2019 9:00 pm No Comments

Quarantines in California. Fines in New York City. Orders for some people to avoid public places in Rockland County, New York. As an outbreak of measles surges across the United States – with 704 cases this year and counting – some local health officials are trying to deal with contagion in unvaccinated communities by turning to extraordinary police powers from the past. “Unfortunately, we are revisiting diseases from another generation,” said Jason Schwartz, an assistant professor of health policy at the Yale School of Public Health. “And now we are revisiting public health responses from another generation” in instances where vaccination programs have fallen short, he said. Not long ago, measles was thought to be a problem that was mostly solved. The once-common disease became increasingly rare after a vaccine became available in the 1960s. In 2000, health officials declared the disease eliminated in the U.S., meaning that all new cases stemmed from infected travelers and not from homegrown transmission. A decade ago, the cases numbered fewer than 100 a year. But they have been jumping since then, with the worst happening right now. [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] On Monday, U.S. health officials said the national tally already has eclipsed the total for any full year since 1994, when 963 cases were reported. Twenty-two states have reported cases, but the vast majority have been in New York — mainly in New York City and in nearby Rockland County. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. Three-quarters of those who caught the extremely contagious disease are children or teenagers. No deaths have been reported this year, but 66 patients were hospitalized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says this year’s count includes 44 people who caught the disease while traveling in another country. Some of them triggered U.S. outbreaks, mostly among unvaccinated people. That includes the largest outbreaks in New York. Measles in most people causes fever, a runny nose, cough and a rash all over the body. A very small fraction of those infected can suffer complications such as pneumonia and a dangerous swelling of the brain. According to the CDC, for every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die from it. The return of measles may be an early warning sign of a resurgences of other vaccine-preventable diseases such as rubella, chickenpox and bacterial meningitis, some experts say. In recent decades, health officials have relied on doctors to prod families to vaccinate their children against measles and other diseases. That push has been bolstered by requirements in every state that children be vaccinated to attend public schools. But as vaccination rates have fallen in some communities and cases exploded, officials recently have taken more dramatic steps. In Rockland County, officials last month banned all unvaccinated children from indoor public places. In New York City this month, officials ordered mandatory vaccinations in four Brooklyn ZIP codes, threatening possible fines of up to $1,000 for noncompliance. City officials said 57 unvaccinated people have received summonses. The city also has shut down seven Yeshivas that failed to exclude unvaccinated children, though five were later allowed to reopen after submitting a corrective plan. Last week in California, more than 1,000 students and staff at

Two More Williamsburg Yeshivas Closed Due to Measles; 57 Summonses Issued to Unvaccinated Individuals

April 29, 2019 7:40 pm 4 Comments

As part of their efforts to contain a significant measles outbreak, officials in New York closed more schools, issued more fines and lobbied the Legislature Monday to eliminate religious exemptions for required vaccinations. Federal officials have reported 704 measles cases so far in the U.S. since Jan. 1, the most since 1994, which saw 963 cases during the whole year. New York City and suburban Rockland County account for the majority of the cases, almost all among members of Orthodox Jewish communities. New York City’s health department said Monday it has now issued summonses to 57 people for failing to abide by an emergency order issued this month requiring people living in certain parts of Brooklyn to get the measles vaccine. If those citations are upheld at a hearing, each person could get slapped with a $1,000 fine. The schools, Tiferes Bnos (585 Marcy Avenue 11206) and preschool Talmud Torah D’Nitra (1007 Bedford Avenue 11205), will not be allowed to reopen until the NYC Health Department reviews and approves a submitted corrective action plan that addresses the ongoing lapses in complying with the Order. The Health Department had previously closed five schools—not including the programs shuttered today—for failing to comply with the Commissioner’s Order. All five have been authorized to reopen under Health Department monitoring after submitting a corrective action plan that was approved by the Department. “Schools that continue to disregard our direction during the outbreak will be closed down until they can prove to the Health Department that they will comply,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “The reality is, the longer it takes schools and individuals to comply with our Order, the longer this outbreak will continue.” [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] In the state capital, Rockland County Executive Ed Day joined lawmakers at an event supporting the repeal of a state law allowing exemptions to immunizations based on religious beliefs. Day, a Republican who’s Rockland County’s top elected official, urged for passage of the bill eliminating the religious exemption from vaccination as soon as possible. “This bill would be a godsend,” Day said during a news conference at the state Capitol. “To wait is a recipe for medical disaster.” The New York Alliance For Vaccine Rights, a Long Island-based group that opposes the legislation, said the bill would violate longstanding rights of “religious practices and bodily autonomy.” Individual Summonses In addition, 57 individuals have received summonses for being non-compliant with the Emergency Order since the City began issuing summonses last week. Any person receiving the summons is entitled to a hearing, and if the hearing officer upholds the summons, a $1,000 penalty will be imposed. Failing to appear at the hearing or respond to the summons will result in a $2,000 fine. Current Case Count To date, 423 cases of measles have been confirmed since the beginning of the outbreak last October. 348 cases (82%) have occurred in Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order issued April 9 requiring those who live or work in these ZIP codes to have been vaccinated with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine (MMR). A small number of cases have occurred outside of these neighborhoods but have, to date, not resulted in sustained transmission of measles. Geographic Distribution of

MEASLES SCARE: JetBlue Flight Quarantined at JFK Airport Over Suspected Measles-Infected Orthodox Jewish Passengers

April 28, 2019 9:35 pm 15 Comments

A Jet Blue flight at JFK Airport was temporarily placed into quarantine on Sunday night, after crew members feared passengers having the highly contagious measles virus. Sources tell YWN that JetBlue Flight 410 from Santo Domingo Republic was carrying dozens of Orthodox Jewish passengers who were returning from a Pesach program. The flight landed at JFK at around 9:00PM, and was immediately placed into quarantine, after two children showed signs of having a rash. Jewish community activists immediately contacted the family’s pediatricians and doctors, and produced records showing that the entire family had been immunized. It appears that the suspicious rash on the children was instead some type of bites from bugs. YWN has confirmed that the Port Authority Police allowed passengers to exit the aircraft about an hour after it was placed in quarantine. “After reports of a potential medical concern onboard, flight 410 from Santo Domingo to JFK, was requested to hold for medical services out of an abundance of caution so a customer could be examined,” a JetBlue spokesperson said. “All customers have been cleared and the flight will deplane normally.” BREAKING NEWS — A @JetBlue flight from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic has just landed at JFK reporting two active measles cases on board, according to sources with strong knowledge of the situation. The plane is being moved to a temporary quarantine area. — James Ford (@jamesfordtv) April 29, 2019 Being quarantined on @JetBlue for false suspicion of measles. — Joey Levy (@joeylevy) April 29, 2019 https://twitter.com/zev_rand/status/1122669347623849984 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw1wWhvA-nP/ READ MORE: [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Health Dept Closes THREE MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Due To Measles; Fines Parents] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg] [ANOTHER GENIUS: Watch This Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer “Community Activist” Give Media Interview] [WATCH THIS: Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer Mothers Give Media Shocking Interview] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

WATCH: Trump Urges Vaccinations To Prevent Spread Of Measles; NYC Issues 38 Violations To Williamsburg Residents

April 28, 2019 6:45 pm 7 Comments

Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, said that people “have to get their shots.” He added that vaccinations “are so important.” Measles in the U.S. has climbed to its highest level in 25 years, hovering around 700 cases this year. The resurgence of the deadly disease is largely attributed to misinformation that is turning parents against vaccines. But Trump has previously cast doubt on the effectiveness on vaccinations. He tweeted several times in 2012 and again in 2014 suggesting, incorrectly, that there could be a link between vaccines and autism in children. [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] President Trump on measles outbreak: "They have to get the shot. The vaccinations are so important." pic.twitter.com/C3ZMJ4Srf1 — NBC News (@NBCNews) April 26, 2019 Meanwhile, the NYC Health Department says they have so far issued 38 violations to people in Williamsburg who have not followed the Emergency Order to vaccinate. Vaccination is the only way to stop the #measles outbreak. As of today, we have issued 38 violations to people in Williamsburg who have not followed the Emergency Order to vaccinate. Avoid a fine — get vaccinated. Help us stop the outbreak. pic.twitter.com/bJBwf9H9W8 — nychealthy (@nycHealthy) April 28, 2019 READ MORE: [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] [HISTORIC: Satmar Paper “Der Yid” Publishes Editorial in ENGLISH Blasting Anti-Vaxxers] [NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak] [MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Health Dept Closes THREE MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Due To Measles; Fines Parents] [Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles] [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg] [ANOTHER GENIUS: Watch This Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer “Community Activist” Give Media Interview] [WATCH THIS: Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer Mothers Give Media Shocking Interview] (YWN World Headquarters – NYC) (AP)

More Than 1000 at LA Universities Quarantined Following Measles Exposure

April 27, 2019 9:30 pm 1 Comment

Nearly 700 people possibly exposed to measles at two Los Angeles universities are still quarantined three days after health officials ordered the precautions to contain the spread of the highly contagious disease. A spokesman for California State University, Los Angeles, said Saturday that 106 staff members and 550 students have been told to stay at home and avoid contact with others. Thirty students and employees from the University of California, Los Angeles, remain quarantined. Those under quarantine were possibly exposed to a person with measles on each campus earlier this month. Hundreds of people have been cleared after proving their immunity with medical records or tests. The quarantines mark one of the most sweeping efforts by health officials to contain the nation’s measles outbreak, where cases have reached a 25-year high. The action at the universities — which together have more than 65,000 students — reflected the seriousness with which public health officials are taking the nation’s outbreak. “Measles actually kills people, so we have to take that really seriously,” said Dr. Armand Dorian, chief medical officer at USC Verdugo Hills Hospital. Those under the quarantine were instructed to stay at home and avoid contact with others. They also were barred from traveling by public transportation, including planes, trains, buses or taxis. If they must travel for an emergency, they were told to notify public health officials first. “This is a legally binding order,” the county’s public health director, Dr. Barbara Ferrer, told reporters. Anyone who violates it could be prosecuted, she said, but added that it appears everyone is cooperating so far. She didn’t describe what penalties those who don’t could face. The number of measles cases in the U.S. has climbed to nearly 700 this year, including five in Los Angeles County and 38 altogether in California. The surge is blamed largely on parents not getting their children vaccinated because of misinformation about the supposed dangers. Still, several students at Cal State-LA were shocked that their campus could be hit by a measles outbreak. “When they were like measles, I was like, ‘What? Where did that come from,’” said Sergio Dula, a communications major. Eden Guerra, a kinesiology major, was surprised classes weren’t canceled, noting, “This is like serious, like it’s life, you know.” Cal State-LA reported 875 students, staff, faculty and visitors were placed under quarantine after possibly being exposed to measles earlier this month. At UCLA, 129 students and faculty were quarantined. Cal State-LA is primarily a commuter school, while many UCLA students live on campus. Some UCLA students were provided a quarantine area to stay in, university officials said, though they gave no details. Those covered by the quarantine were singled out based on their possible exposure to either an infected UCLA student who had attended classes in two buildings on three days earlier this month, or a person with measles who visited a Cal State-LA library on April 11, officials said. Those possibly exposed at Cal State-LA were located by tracking the records of people working in the library and those who logged on to its computers during the four hours the infected student was there. Given the amount of time a person can remain contagious, officials said the quarantine would end at UCLA on Tuesday and at Cal State-LA on Thursday. Around the country,

South Sudan Measles Outbreak Raises Questions About Vaccines

April 25, 2019 12:00 pm No Comments

Despondent, Akon Mathiong points to two small mounds of dirt where she buried her grandsons, 4 and 5 years old, last month. They died after contracting measles in one of the worst-hit areas of South Sudan’s latest outbreak. “Every time I see the graves I feel like crying,” Mathiong said. The family said the boys had been vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. Similar infections are prompting questions about whether some vaccines have been compromised in a country largely devastated by conflict. As South Sudan emerges from a five-year civil war, more than 750 measles cases, including seven deaths, have been reported since January. That’s almost six times the number of cases for all of 2018, according to World Health Organization data. The increase in measles cases is part of a global one, in part because of misinformation that makes some parents balk at receiving a vaccine. WHO noted a 300% increase in reported measles cases worldwide in the first three months of this year compared with the same period last year. Many in developing countries don’t dispute the vaccine but instead are held back by lack of access. Measles, spread by coughing, sneezing, close contact or infected surfaces, has no specific treatment. Malnourished children and those with weak immune systems can develop severe complications that can lead to death — and malnourishment can reduce how well the vaccine protects them. Though an emergency vaccination campaign is underway in South Sudan’s 12 affected counties the outbreak is spreading, leading some health officials and residents to doubt the vaccine’s viability in some cases. “Those kids were vaccinated but they died. It makes me wonder if the vaccine is working,” the boys’ uncle, John Garang Ajak, told The Associated Press during a visit to Kuajok town earlier this month. At least two other vaccinated children in his family contracted measles, he said. While the AP could not independently verify that the children had been vaccinated, medical workers at Kuajok hospital are seeing some vaccinated children contract measles, said Dr. Garang Nyuol. He has seen more than 10 such cases since January. To ensure the integrity of the highly effective measles vaccine it must be kept at between 2 degrees Celsius (35 Fahrenheit) and 8 degrees Celsius (46 Fahrenheit). Kuajok hospital, Gogrial state’s main medical facility, administers measles vaccines year-round, yet several staffers said its two generators often shut down for hours, even days, at a time. “I’m worried about the effectiveness of the vaccine,” Chok Deng, the director general for the state’s ministry of health, told the AP. He said he reached out to the United Nations children’s agency and WHO for help and was told it was being “followed up.” UNICEF, which provides the majority of vaccines in South Sudan as well as freezers and generators, said the system is designed to be self-sufficient for 16 hours in case of a power failure. The organization conducts regular maintenance and has not “received any messages about generators in Kuajok not running properly,” said Penelope Campbell, chief of health for UNICEF in South Sudan. Dr. Ujjiga Thomas, WHO’s Kuajok hub coordinator, said that “at no time has the cold chain been compromised when it comes to fuel or spare parts” at the hospital. During power outages, medical workers at the hospital move the

MOST ARE ORTHODOX JEWS: US Measles Outbreak is Largest Since Disease Was Declared ‘Eliminated’; 2 Pregnant Women Sickened in Williamsburg

April 24, 2019 4:30 pm 9 Comments

Measles cases in the United States have surpassed the highest number on record since the disease was declared ‘eliminated’ nationwide in 2000. Overall, there have been 695 measles cases across 22 states this year, and the number continues to rise on a weekly basis. Just two days ago there were 626 cases of measles nationwide. It is the nation’s worst year for measles since 1994, with eight months still to go in 2019. There were 963 cases in 1994. “This is alarming,” said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccine expert. Not only is measles dangerous in itself, but its return could mean other vaccine-preventable diseases seemingly consigned to the past may be coming back as well, he said. The NYC Health Department announced Wednesday that the number of measles cases has grown to 390, including two pregnant women diagnosed with the infection, one diagnosed in mid-April. The city reported 374 cases just two days ago. Of the 390 cases, 323 (83%) have occurred in the Orthodox-Jewish section of Williamsburg (ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211, 11249), which has been under an Emergency Order to get vaccinated with the Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine (MMR) since April 12. There are a few isolated cases in other neighborhoods, but those have “not resulted in sustained transmission of measles,” the Health Department said. 12 individuals have received summonses for being non-compliant with the Emergency Order since the City began issuing summonses last week. Any person receiving the summons is entitled to a hearing, and if the hearing officer upholds the summons, a $1,000 penalty will be imposed. Failing to appear at the hearing or respond to the summons will result in a $2,000 fine. [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said, “We have now identified two expectant mothers who have contracted measles. These cases are stark reminders of why New Yorkers must get vaccinated against the measles as soon as possible. When we do not get vaccinated, we put our friends, our relatives, our neighbors, our classmates and other fellow New Yorkers at risk. We urgently repeat our plea to every New Yorker, especially those in the affected areas – unless you have a medical condition that prohibits you from doing so, please get vaccinated.” “Currently, the outbreak remains intensely focused in Williamsburg where vaccination rates must continue to improve. While we’ve seen a few cases in people out of the Orthodox Jewish community, all but one of these individuals were exposed in Williamsburg and Borough Park and none of these have resulted in sustained transmission, mainly due to the power of herd immunity afforded by the high vaccination rates outside of the Williamsburg epicenter of this outbreak,” said Deputy Commissioner Dr. Demetre Daskalakis. “There’s no reason why a healthy child or adult should not be vaccinated against measles. We need to make sure that everyone who can get vaccinated, who doesn’t know their immunity status or vaccination history, gets the vaccine to protect themselves and those around them that can’t.” The 22 states reporting measles cases are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas and Washington. The number of cases is likely to go even higher. Measles

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