Search Results for “MEASLES” – Page 3

Washington State Bill Limits Measles Vaccine Exemptions

April 24, 2019 1:00 pm No Comments

Washington state lawmakers voted Tuesday to remove parents’ ability to claim a personal or philosophical exemption from vaccinating their children for measles, although medical and religious exemptions will remain. The vote comes as the number of measles cases nationwide this year has passed 600. The measure now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee, who has expressed support for limiting exemptions. The state has seen 74 cases of measles this year. Most of those cases were centered in one county and involved children 10 or younger who were not immunized. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that as of the end of last week, 626 cases of measles have been confirmed in the U.S. so far this year, up from 555 as of a week ago. While 22 states have reported cases, most of the nation’s cases are centered in New York City and in nearby Rockland County north of the city. Democratic state Rep. Monica Stonier of Vancouver said the measure will “reduce the risk that our communities face when an outbreak is possible.” “It keeps kids in school,” she said. “It keeps people with compromised immunities safe in their communities.” Washington is among 17 states that allow some type of non-medical vaccine exemption for personal or philosophical beliefs. In addition, medical and religious exemptions exist for attendance at the state’s public or private schools or licensed day-care centers. Medical and religious exemptions remain in place under the measure. Unless an exemption is claimed, children are required to be vaccinated against or show proof of acquired immunity for nearly a dozen diseases — including polio, whooping cough and measles — before they can attend school or go to child care centers. The state Department of Health said that 4% of Washington K-12 students have non-medical vaccine exemptions. Of those, 3.7% of the exemptions are personal, and the rest are religious. While the Senate had first sought a bill that would have removed the philosophical exemption for all required childhood vaccines, both chambers ultimately agreed to move forward with the House bill that focused only on the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine — also known as MMR. Republican Rep. Joe Schmick said the measure was “the wrong direction that we should be moving.” “The parents should be making this call, and they should be the one to decide,” he said. (AP)

El Al Reports Over 250 Employees Have Been Vaccinated against Measles

April 23, 2019 10:30 am No Comments

The 43-year-old El Al flight attendant who contracted measles during a flight from New York is suspected of having brain damage due to the complications that resulted from the illness. The woman was hospitalized on March 31, 2019 in Meir Hospital in Kfar Sava, and developed meningitis, which is a known complication of the measles. Since her case was reported, the Ministry of Health instructed all local airlines to make certain their employees are vaccinated against measles. In the case of the flight attendant above, it has been learned that she only had the first of the two measles vaccinations. Since she reportedly contracted measles, El Al reports over 250 employees have been vaccinated against the measles as the company set up a mini clinic, permitting employees to be vaccinated Ben-Gurion International Airport. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

New York Outbreaks Drive US Measles Count Up to 626; 71 New Cases LAST WEEK

April 22, 2019 9:00 pm 1 Comment

Outbreaks in New York state continue to drive up the number of U.S. measles cases, which are approaching levels not seen in 25 years. Health officials say 71 more cases were reported last week, with 68 of them from New York. That brings this year’s total to 626. That is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported for the whole year. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994. 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. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the latest numbers Monday. [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] 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] (AP)

Israel: 10-Year-Old Boy Suffers Permanent Brain Damage After Getting Measles

April 19, 2019 1:45 pm 11 Comments

A 10-year-old boy in Israel is in critical condition after he contracted the measles The young boy was hospitalized at Schneider Medical Center in Petah Tikva is attached to a ventilator. Doctors confirm that the child suffered irreversible brain damage after developing a potentially deadly complication of the virus. The complication, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, is a well-known and sometimes fatal complication of measles. This follows the report of an El Al flight attendant that is also in a coma after she got the measles. The names for Tehillim were unavailable. (YWN israel Desk – Jerusalem)

MORE ACTIONS TAKEN: NYC Health Dept Closes THREE MORE Satmar Williamsburg Yeshivas Due To Measles; Fines Parents

April 18, 2019 5:00 pm 9 Comments

The New York City Health Department today announced it is issuing three civil summonses, subject to fines, to people who failed to comply with the Commissioner’s Emergency Order mandating measles vaccination. To stop the spread of measles, the Health Department on April 9 ordered adults and children ages 6 months and older who live, work or go to school in ZIP codes 11205, 11206, 11211 and 11249 receive a measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine within 48 hours. If non-compliant, the Health Department announced it would issue a civil summons to those who had not been vaccinated as of April 12. 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. Since the Emergency Order took effect, the Health Department carefully investigated cases with the help of its disease detectives. Many of the people who were contacts of individuals with measles had proof of vaccination, however the Health Department identified three children who were exposed to the measles but still unvaccinated as of April 12. The cases will go to a hearing where the parent will be fined $1,000 if the violations are upheld. Additionally, the Health Department is issuing closure orders for four additional school sites. The Health Department is working closely with community leaders to ensure schools are families are complying with the Emergency Orders. The schools or pre-schools are located at: 241 Keap St. UTA (Bruche Sime) Satmar Girls School; 590 Bedford Ave. (Satmar United Talmudical Academy); 720 Wythe Ave. and 68-84 Harrison Ave. The Health Department also announced that the United Talmudical Academy (UTA), located at 75 Ross Street in Williamsburg, reopened today under Health Department monitoring after it was closed on Tuesday for failing to provide access to vaccination and attendance records. Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot said, “Because of measles’ long incubation period, we know this outbreak will get worse before it gets better. However, we can turn the tide by people getting vaccinated, especially before Passover when families and communities will gather. We urge everyone to protect their children and their fellow New Yorkers by getting vaccinated immediately.” [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] As of Monday, 329 cases of measles have been confirmed since the outbreak began last October, with 44 additional cases added since last week’s Emergency Order from the Commissioner. Six of the additional 44 cases are newly diagnosed, while the other 38 are recently discovered, but had infection onset prior to the emergency declaration. The majority of cases are children under 18 years of age (284 cases), and 45 cases are adults. Most of these measles cases were unvaccinated or had only one dose of the vaccine. There have been no deaths associated with this outbreak, although there have been complications, including 25 hospitalizations and six admissions to the intensive care unit. Additionally, 23 yeshivas and day care programs have received Notice of Violations (NOVs) for not following the outbreak-related school exclusion order; UTA at 75 Ross Street was the first program to be closed. Most cases have been reported from Williamsburg and Borough Park, Brooklyn. Five cases, including the initial case

IN TIME FOR PESACH: Otisville Prison Being Reopened To Visitors Following Measles Incident

April 17, 2019 10:15 pm 3 Comments

Inmates at the Otisville Correctional Facility in Upstate NY received some good news today, that the prison will once again allow visitors – just in time for Pesach. A spokesperson for the “Freedom Through Friendship” organization tells YWN that a decision was just made to reopen the facility to visitors on this coming Friday, allowing inmates to see their families just hours before Pesach starts. As YWN had reported, the prison decided to ban visitors two weeks ago after it was learned that a Jewish child with the measles had visited his father at the facility. The child is reportedly a Williamsburg resident, where there have been dozens of confirmed cases of measles during a months-long outbreak. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

EL AL Flight Attendant in Coma After Getting Measles

April 17, 2019 9:40 pm 5 Comments

The following is via CNN: An Israeli flight attendant has slipped into a coma after contracting measles, according to health officials. The 43-year-old woman has encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain, a well-known and potentially deadly complication of the virus. She was otherwise healthy before getting measles. “She’s been in a deep coma for 10 days, and we’re now just hoping for the best,” said Dr. Itamar Grotto, associate director general of Israel’s Ministry of Health. The flight attendant, who works for El Al, the Israeli national airline, might have contracted the virus in New York, in Israel or on a flight between the two, Grotto said. Health authorities do not believed that she spread the virus to anyone on the flights. She’s unable to breathe on her own and on a respirator in the intensive care unit at Meir Medical Center in Kfar Saba, near Tel Aviv. She developed a fever on March 31 and entered the hospital that same day. Ongoing measles outbreaks in the United States and Israel started with parents who’ve chosen not to vaccinate their children, according to health authorities. Authorities believe that the flight attendant was vaccinated as a child, but the vaccine isn’t perfect, and in her case, it didn’t work. “I knew this was going to happen sooner or later,” said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University and an adviser to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on vaccines. “We have the reintroduction of a serious viral infection with a population that’s withholding the vaccine from their children, and now it’s spreading beyond that population.” SOURCE: CNN

FIGHTING THE MEASLES: Rockland County BANS Unvaccinated People From Public Places For 21 Days

April 17, 2019 3:45 pm 4 Comments

Officials trying to contain a measles outbreak in a county north of New York City on Tuesday ordered all unvaccinated people exposed to the disease barred from public gathering places, including houses of worship, for up to three weeks. The order, issued by Rockland County, comes one day after New York City closed a Satmar preschool in Williamsburg over non-compliance with measles vaccine requirements. Both the county and city are struggling to contain a swelling number of measles cases centered in ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhoods while battling lawsuits over their efforts to require vaccinations. Rockland County issued its order three days ahead of the start of Pesach, when many families travel to be together and gather in Shuls. “Need we wait for someone to die?” Rockland County Executive Ed Day said in announcing the measure. Ealier this month, a judge blocked a similar ban by Rockland County. New York City’s Board of Health will vote Wednesday on whether to extend an emergency declaration last week ordering mandatory vaccinations in four Brooklyn ZIP codes. Health officials have confirmed 329 cases of measles in the city and 184 cases in Rockland since the outbreak of the highly contagious disease began in October. “This is about protecting kids and it’s also about protecting some adults, including pregnant women, folks who are going through medical treatment like chemotherapy, some senior with compromised health conditions,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a TV interview . “Measles is very, very serious.” [UNPRECEDENTED: Over FIVE HUNDRED Doctors Serving Jewish Communities Across North America Say “VACCINATE”!] Also on Monday, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against the vaccination order, arguing it was “arbitrary, capricious, contrary to law and in violation of petitioners’ rights under the United States Constitution and New York State law.” A judge in Brooklyn state Supreme Court declined to issue an injunction barring the city from enforcing the order, and the parties will appear in court Thursday. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are identified by their initials. Their attorney, Robert Krakow, claimed the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine “can cause many vaccine injuries, including encephalitis and death.” https://www.instagram.com/p/BwXGuWFAcsJ/ Medical experts have debunked those claims and proven that the vaccine is safe, but opposition to vaccines persists. “In 2017, measles killed 110,000 people worldwide, mostly children under the age of 5,” Day said in announcing the new anti-measles rules in Rockland. Under the county’s Communicable Disease and Exposure Exclusion Order, anyone either diagnosed with measles or exposed to a person who has been diagnosed with measles must stay away from indoor and outdoor places of assembly for up to 21 days. Violators could be fined $2,000 per day. While no one in the county has died of measles, the disease has caused several hospitalizations and a premature birth. Rockland County announced the new tactics to fight measles after an earlier order banning all unvaccinated children from indoor public places was halted by a judge. The county is appealing that ruling. The measles cases in Rockland and in Brooklyn have been traced to unvaccinated members of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community who traveled to Israel, where a measles outbreak is occurring. Orthodox Jewish leaders say a small faction of vaccine opponents in the community has allowed the disease to spread. A Yiddish-language newspaper that serves the ultra-Orthodox community in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg section

Kindergarten Teacher Checked For Measles & Reported To Work Nonetheless

April 16, 2019 11:15 pm No Comments

A Jerusalem kindergarten teacher who was checked for measles decided for some reason, to report to work anyway. The parents were outraged after they were updated on her condition, KAN News reported. According to the parents, even after being warned late, they did not receive further instructions, and when they came to the Tipat Chalav well-baby clinic, they waited for hours for the vaccination because the municipality did not increase the number of nurses at the station. According to the KAN News report, one of the mothers, who had been waiting for two hours, decided to go to the district health office to have her son vaccinated – when she made the journey on the light rail loaded with passengers. In response to the parents’ complaints, the Ministry of Health said that “an official letter from the district health office was sent to the replacement kindergarten teacher who was asked to pass it on to all parents. The parents are instructed to go to the clinic they are treated in to receive vaccinations. “The directive is the standard directive for exposure to measles. The children exposed were not checked for measles, and therefore, there is no danger to other babies treated in the clinic. Regarding the clinic being backed up, the parents are also given the option of receiving the vaccination in the district health office.” The Jerusalem Municipality said in response: “The kindergarten teacher chose to come to work in the kindergarten, and of course, if she were ill and absent from work, the municipality would act to replace her.” “When the kindergarten teacher learned about her illness, she turned to the necessary medical care, and the parents of the kindergarten were immediately updated to allow children who are not fully immunized to vaccinate.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Dad Visited Ichilov Hospital Newborn Unit: He Now Has Measles

April 16, 2019 10:00 am 3 Comments

A 42-year-old man from Tel Aviv was in the maternity unit of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv a few days ago, after his son was born. Now, he has been diagnosed with the measles. According to the report in Yediot Achronot on Monday, April 15, 2019, the man was celebrating the event and he was in the maternity ward, complaining of feeling tired, weak, and with throat pain. When he developed a rash a few days later, the measles diagnosis was made. He explained that he felt this way when his wife entered the hospital, but he thought it was due to the stress of the event and nothing more. The man told Yediot Achronot that on last Wednesday, April 10, 2019, he accompanied his wife to Ichilov. He met with family members who came, and only the following morning did the rash appear. He ran to the emergency room and they quickly placed him in isolation. It turns out he is partially inoculated as he was born in 1977. He added that he was unaware that he was ill and could infect others, and that he was ill with one of the more infectious illnesses. In response, persons and babies who were in the unit between on the days in question are at risk of contracting measles and have received prophylactic treatment. The local Health Ministry District Office has launched a probe as well. Children in the daycare centers and kindergartens of the family members with whom are being vaccinated too. The hospital is also working to determine who was possibly in contact with the man, including the maternity unit where the man spent most of his time. The Ichilov Medical Center said in response to the Yediot report “the incident was reported to be supported by the Ministry of Health, and that the district health office will soon be referring to the parents of the babies who were currently in need of vaccinations according to the guidelines. The fact that the father and his partner were in a private room like most of the mothers at Ichilov has reduced the potential exposure.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

US Measles Count Up To 555, With Most New Cases In New York

April 15, 2019 9:00 pm 2 Comments

U.S. measles cases have surged again, and are on pace to set a record for most illnesses in 25 years. Health officials on Monday said 555 measles cases have been confirmed so far this year, up from 465 as of a week ago. While 20 states have reported cases, New York has been the epicenter. Nearly two-thirds of all cases have been in New York, and 85% of the latest week’s cases came from the state. Most of the New York cases have been unvaccinated people in Orthodox Jewish communities. The 2019 tally is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all children get two doses of measles vaccine, which is 97% effective. Other states reporting measles cases this year include Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas and Washington. After the CDC issued its report Monday morning, Iowa officials said they too had seen a case. Also on Monday, the World Health Organization reported that globally there are four times as many measles cases so far this year as there were at the same time last year. Over the last year, the largest numbers have been in Ukraine, Madagascar and India, with each reporting more than 60,000 cases. [NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak] [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] (AP)

NYC TAKES ACTION: Forces Closure of Satmar Child Care Center in Williamsburg Over Measles Outbreak

April 15, 2019 6:45 pm 14 Comments

The New York City Health Department today announced that it has closed a child care program in Williamsburg for repeatedly failing to provide access to medical and attendance records in violation of an Order of the Health Commissioner in response to the current measles outbreak. That Order requires child care programs to exclude unvaccinated students and staff and to maintain medical and attendance records on site and provide the Department with immediate access. United Talmudical Academy (UTA), located at 75 Ross Street in Williamsburg, failed to provide access to those records, making it impossible for the Department to determine whether the child care program has been excluding children and staff as required. Health Department staff will monitor the school to ensure it is following the closure order and the center will not be allowed to reopen until its staff have submitted a corrective action plan approved by the Department. To date, 329 cases of measles have been confirmed since the beginning of the outbreak last October, with 44 additional cases added since last week’s emergency order from the Commissioner. Six of the additional 44 cases are newly diagnosed, while the other 38 are recently discovered, but had infection onset prior to the emergency declaration. The majority of cases are children under 18 years of age (284 cases), and 45 cases are adults. Most of these measles cases were unvaccinated or had only one dose of the vaccine. There have been no deaths associated with this outbreak, although there have been complications, including 25 hospitalizations and six admissions to the intensive care unit. Additionally, 23 yeshivas and day care programs have received Notice of Violations (NOVs) for not following the school exclusion order; this is the first program to be closed. [Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW] “While we expect to see an increase in case count over the next several weeks due to exposures that occurred prior to the emergency declaration, we know that increasing vaccination rates is the definitive path to ending this outbreak,” said Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Herminia Palacio. “Nevertheless – it is simultaneously important to keep unvaccinated children from attending school during this outbreak. We must use all public health tools at our disposal.” “This outbreak will continue to worsen, and the case count will grow if child care programs and schools do not follow our direction,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “It’s crucial in this outbreak that child care programs and schools maintain up to date and accurate immunization and attendance records. It’s the only way we can make sure schools are properly keeping unvaccinated students and staff out of child care centers to hasten the end of this outbreak.” [HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg] Most cases have been reported from Williamsburg and Borough Park, Brooklyn. Five cases, including the initial case of measles, were acquired on a visit to Israel, where a large outbreak of the disease is occurring. Two people contracted measles from the U.K. and one from Ukraine. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can cause pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death. Measles is easily preventable with the safe and effective MMR vaccine. Newborns, pregnant individuals, and those with

Hatzolah in NYC Joins Fight Against The Measles Outbreak – GET VACCINATED NOW

April 15, 2019 2:15 pm 8 Comments

Central Hatzolah has joined with the NYC Health Department and released a letter calling on the community to vaccinate. The following is the letter: Measles is a highly contagious disease that is now unfortunately prevalent in our community. Measles is transmitted by airborne particles, droplets, and direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person. Measles typically presents in adults and children as an acute viral illness characterized by fever and generalized rash. The rash usually starts on the face, proceeds down the body, and may include the palms and soles. The rash lasts several days. Infected individuals are contagious from four days before rash onset through the fourth day after rash appearance. “Although measles is preventable, too many families are choosing to not vaccinate or delay vaccination, putting their children and other children at risk” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “It is also important to make sure the entire family is protected before traveling internationally, because outbreaks of measles are occurring in Israel and throughout Europe. If your child develops a fever and rash, contact your health care provider and keep your children home from school or daycare.” If you think you or your child has been exposed to measles, contact your health care provider before going to the facility so they can prevent exposure to other patients. Tell the medical staff if you have fever and a rash and about any known exposures or international travel. You can prevent measles by making sure that you and your family have received two doses of MMR vaccine. Chevra Hatzalah has seen an increase in measles cases in our community. In conjunction with the Department of Health we strongly urge everyone to be vaccinated for measles. The Health Department recommends the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children at age 12 months, with a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. You are not only helping yourself, but you are helping prevent the spread of this disease to others who are not able to be vaccinated. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

MAILBAG: The Measles Crisis Will Reach Unheralded Proportions This Summer

April 15, 2019 11:45 am 12 Comments

This is probably not the forum for this, but I’m going to post it here anyway. I’m sure some of you opened up the Wall Street journal this week and saw the front page article about measles in the Orthodox Jewish population. If you turned on 880 or 1010 Wins on the radio, the lead story was about the measles outbreak in Williamsburg. You can mark your calendars. There is the potential to be a measles outbreak of unheralded proportions this summer in the Catskills. As we all know, there is a mixing of the neighborhoods over the summer, and kids of all ages are going to be in close contact. I am predicting that as soon as the first child in a day camp has measles, the Sullivan County Department of Health is going to close down that day camp for at least 30 days. THIS IS ALL PREVENTABLE. Myself and my family are vaccinated. I don’t have any children in Day camp. But I have no interest in the Department of Health coming into my bungalow colony. I would hate to see one of my friends children in an ICU on a respirator. (There are currently a few on a respirator now with measles). Vaccinate your kids!!! Encourage your friends to vaccinate their kids!!! Wishing everyone a healthy and joyous Pesach. Ellie Bennett, MD (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Measles Outbreak Kills More Than 1,200 in Madagascar

April 14, 2019 12:00 pm 13 Comments

Babies wail as a nurse tries to reassure mothers who have come to vaccinate their children against a measles outbreak that has killed more than 1,200 people in this island nation where many are desperately poor. Madagascar faces its largest measles outbreak in history, with cases soaring well beyond 115,000, but resistance to vaccinating children is not the driving force behind the rise. Measles cases are rising in the United States and elsewhere, in part because of misinformation that makes some parents balk at receiving a vaccine. New York City is trying to halt an outbreak by ordering mandatory vaccinations in one Brooklyn neighborhood. In Madagascar, many parents want to protect their children but face immense challenges, including the lack of resources. Only 58% of people on Madagascar’s main island have been vaccinated against measles, a major factor in the outbreak’s spread. With measles one of the most infectious diseases, immunization rates need to be 90% to 95% or higher to prevent outbreaks. On a recent day, the Iarintsena health center’s waiting room was full, with mothers sitting on the floor and others waiting outside in the overwhelming heat. Two volunteer nurses and a midwife tried to meet the demand. Nifaliana Razaijafisoa had walked 15 kilometers (9 miles) with her 6-month-old baby in her arms. “He has a fever,” she said. “I think it’s measles because there are these little pimples that have appeared on his face.” The nurse quickly confirmed it. “I’m so scared for him because in the village everyone says it kills babies,” Razaijafisoa said. The outbreak has killed mostly children under 15 since it began in September, according to the World Health Organization. “The epidemic unfortunately continues to expand in size,” though at a slower pace than a month ago, said Dr. Dossou Vincent Sodjinou, a WHO epidemiologist in Madagascar. By mid-March, 117,075 cases had been reported by the health ministry, affecting all regions of the country. Some cases of resistance to vaccinations exist because of the influence of religion or of traditional health practitioners but they are isolated ones, he said. This outbreak is complicated by the fact that nearly 50% of children in Madagascar are malnourished. “Malnutrition is the bed of measles, ” Sodjinou said. Razaijafisoa’s baby weighs just 5 kilograms (11 pounds). “This is the case for almost all children with measles who have come here,” said Lantonirina Rasolofoniaina, a volunteer at the health center. Simply reaching a clinic for help can be a challenge. Many people in Madagascar cannot afford to see a doctor or buy medicine, and health centers often are understaffed or have poorly qualified workers. As a result, information about health issues can be unreliable. Some parents are not aware that vaccines are free, at least in public health centers. Four of Erika Hantriniaina’s five children have had measles. She had wrongly believed that people could not be vaccinated after nine months of age. “It’s my 6-year-old daughter who had measles first. She had a lot of fever,” she said. “I called the doctor but it was Friday. He had already gone to town. I went to see another doctor who told me that my daughter had an allergy. … This misdiagnosis was almost fatal.” The girl had diarrhea and vomiting and couldn’t eat, Hantriniaina said, adding that she

HATE: NYC Bus Driver Makes Anti-Semitic ‘Measles’ Remark Towards Hasidic Man in Williamsburg

April 12, 2019 8:10 pm 10 Comments

An MTA bus driver allegedly made anti-Semitic remarks towards a Hasidic man, regarding the measles outbreak in the community. The United Jewish Organizations of Williamsburg said the incident happened last week on a B57 bus. The clearly Hasidic man, in his 40s, was waiting for the bus at the corner of Flushing and Franklin Avenues when the bus allegedly passed by without stopping. The man ran to the bus, which was stopped at the next corner, and knocked on the door hoping to board the bus. That’s when the bus driver allegedly covered her face with her sweater and turned away from him towards the window. The man tried handing the driver a transfer, but she allegedly responded, shouting: “Measles! Go in!” The @MTA is investigating after a Hasidic man said he was the victim of an anti-Semitic incident on a bus in #Brooklyn last week related to the recent #measles outbreak. @LindsayTuchman has the latest. #MorningsOn1 pic.twitter.com/SbAXCvDdPV — Spectrum News NY1 (@NY1) April 12, 2019 NYC Mayor Bill DeBlasio and the city’s bus department took to Twitter to condemn the incident and promised an investigation. The incident comes amidst a measles outbreak that has sickened nearly 300 people in New York City, the majority in the Orthodox Jewish communities. The city has responded by threatening to fine parents who do not vaccinate their children, and to close Yeshivas that allow unvaccinated children to attend. “There’s verbal harassment on the streets,” Rabbi David Niederman od the UJO told BrooklynPaper.com “People shouting, ‘Jews,’ and ‘measles,’ that type of stuff.” Facts are, about 95% of the community is vaccinating. We, the Rabbis and community leaders, are working hard to increase it. Not justification to attack the entire community for the shortcomings of a few. — UJO of Williamsburg (@UnitedJewish) April 11, 2019 Anti-Semitic discrimination has no place in our city. We’ve reached out to the MTA about this report and will make sure it is thoroughly investigated. https://t.co/pA2g1lCLut — Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) April 11, 2019 Good afternoon. We take reports of this kind extremely seriously. Please know that we are currently investigating. Thank you for reporting this to us. ^BD — NYCT Bus (@NYCTBus) April 11, 2019 Thank you Mr. Mayor for speaking up against antisemitism. The outbreak – that we are all working so hard to end – isn't an excuse for antisemitism! — UJO of Williamsburg (@UnitedJewish) April 11, 2019 (Nat Golden – YWN)

WATCH THIS: Measles Victim Calls For Mass Vaccination Events in Frum Communities Worldwide

April 12, 2019 1:15 pm 11 Comments

A 55-year-old man named Tzali Friedman recently recovered from the measles in Detroit, and has now gone public with this urgent message.

Statement from Agudath Israel of America on the Measles Outbreak and “Infectious Hatred”

April 10, 2019 7:39 pm 3 Comments

Agudath Israel of America is deeply concerned about the recent outbreak of measles and the threat it poses to communities around the country. For that reason, countless rabbinical figures and leaders, including leading rabbis in the Agudath Israel movement and doctors serving these communities, have repeatedly encouraged vaccination in the strongest possible terms. Indeed, the overwhelming majority of children enrolled in Jewish schools are vaccinated. Governmental records indicate that the measles vaccination rates in yeshivos in Williamsburg, Borough Park and across New York State are high, with yeshiva averages statewide exceeding 96%. Similarly high rates were obtained in areas around the country with large Jewish populations. While vaccination rates in certain schools and for preschoolers may be lower, vaccination is the clear societal norm in Orthodox Jewish communities. Agudath Israel views with equal alarm something else that has spread along with this disease: infectious hatred. Our public discourse is debased when individuals and media outlets point the finger of blame for the spread of measles squarely – and sometimes viciously – at the “ultra-Orthodox” community. Social media comments have been particularly appalling in this regard. This is a time to come together and collaborate to meet a challenge. There is no excuse to use a public health issue – an outbreak we are suffering from – as a platform from which to spew poisonous anti-Semitic rhetoric. The motive behind this hatred becomes readily apparent in light of statistics evidencing that acute Orthodox Jewish outbreak areas have vaccination rates rivaling those of many other municipalities. There may be reasons why, despite the high percentages of immunization, Orthodox Jewish communities are more susceptible to an outbreak of measles. Epidemiologists have chronicled how international travel by Orthodox Jews to outbreak areas, closely interrelated Orthodox social networks, and high numbers of Orthodox children at ages most susceptible to a highly contagious disease are key factors in the spread of diseases of this kind (see here and here ). These are all reasons it is imperative to build on the Orthodox Jewish community’s already high vaccination rate, not to spread a contagion of hate. The eradication of these dual scourges – disease and hate – demand our immediate response. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

NEXT LOCATION: Measles Confirmed in Westchester County, 8 Unvaccinated Orthodox Jewish Children

April 10, 2019 6:00 pm 8 Comments

Measles has been confirmed in eight Westchester County children, six are siblings, and all are from Northern Westchester. None of the children attend public schools or childcare programs. The children range in age from six months to 14 years old. All live in the Mount Kisco and Bedford communities in northern Westchester. Two of the children had to be hospitalized. YWN has confirmed that they are members of the Kasho and Nitra communities. The Westchester County Department of Health is working with the families and healthcare providers to identify locations where the children may have exposed others. The children, who were not vaccinated, appear to have been exposed to Measles in Rockland County and Brooklyn where there have been ongoing outbreaks. Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler urged parents of unvaccinated children to make it a priority for their children to receive the MMR vaccine, which covers measles, mumps and rubella. Amler said: “With the increasing number of measles cases in our surrounding area, I strongly urge all parents who have not vaccinated their children against measles to reconsider. Measles is highly contagious, and nine out of 10 people who are not immune and are exposed to measles will become infected. People can spread measles before they even know they are sick. People without immunity can catch measles just by being in a room for up to two hours after a person with measles has left. Measles can be a serious infection which can result in pneumonia, swelling of the brain, hearing loss and death.” WATCH THIS: Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer Mothers Give Media Shocking Interview [ANOTHER GENIUS: Watch This Williamsburg Anti-Vaxxer “Community Activist” Give Media Interview] PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY: DeBlasio Orders Mandatory Vaccinations in Williamsburg; Anti-Vaxxers Face $1000 Fine (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

US Measles Tally Hits 465, With Most Illnesses In Kids

April 9, 2019 7:00 am No Comments

U.S. measles cases are continuing to jump, and most of the reported illnesses are in children. Health officials say 465 measles cases have been reported this year, as of last week. That’s up from 387 the week before. The numbers are preliminary. The 2019 tally is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported. The most before that was 963 cases in 1994. Outbreaks have hit several states, including California, Michigan and New Jersey. New York City accounted for about two-thirds of the U.S. cases reported last week. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated the numbers Monday. Roughly 80% of the cases are age 19 or younger. The CDC recommends that all children get two doses of measles vaccine. It says the vaccine is 97% effective. (AP)

Measles Outbreak in London Has Reached More Than 300 People In The Past Six Months

April 8, 2019 3:00 pm 1 Comment

The follwing is via inews: A measles outbreak in north-east London has affected more than 300 people since October of last year. Hackney and Haringey have seen 322 cases between since the beginning of October, Public Health England told i. In early December, around 60 people had contracted the disease, but since then the number has risen significantly. The cases have mainly occurred among the area’s strictly Orthodox Jewish Charedi community, where vaccination rates have historically been low. Between 2006-2013, the community experienced measles at a rate of 117 per 100,000. The latest outbreak is affecting people at 10 times that rate, and the data suggests it has now reached between 1 and 2 per cent of the approximately 20,000 strong community. Hackney Clinical Commissioning Group is running immunisation clinics in an attempt to address the issue, with particular focus on education within Charedi communities. Why now, and why north-east London? The MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) vaccination is usually delivered in two doses, and Haringey and Hackney as a whole have relatively low rates for completing the process. In 2018, they were at 70.2 per cent and 69.7 per cent. Those numbers are well below the national average, which is 87.2%. The WHO recommends 95% coverage to ensure herd immunity, the form of indirect protection from infectious disease created when enough of the population is immune. Israel has seen an outbreak of measles in the past year, recording 3,600 cases since March 2018. Travel between the country and north-east London is common, and believed to have sparked the recent explosion in cases. Similar circumstances contributed to the measles epidemic in Rockland County, which resulted in the banning of unvaccinated children in public spaces after a state of emergency was announced. The New York Times reported that there had been 153 confirmed cases of measles there since October, primarily among the ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in the county. The Charedi community is particularly vulnerable to measles as its vaccination levels are much lower than in the general population. This has been attributed to an anti-vaccination movement in the US, stemming in part from a distrust of secular media, and strong religious views that can come into conflict with science. Many in the community have been fighting against the trend for a number of years. A Stamford Hill GP, Dr Joseph Spitzer, spoke to the Jewish Chronicle in 2017 about his efforts to combat the issue, which included hiring a Charedi nurse at his surgery to improve take-up. That nurse, Naomi Freeman, had previously been employed by Hackney Public Health in a similar role, where she said she had improved vaccination rates in part of the community from 54 to 87 per cent. Dealing with the outbreak Public Health England has written to local GPs, Orthodox Jewish independent schools and nurseries, and children’s centres to raise awareness of the outbreak. Leaflets are being distributed in both English and Yiddish, and the CCG is running immunisation clinics. Dr Anita Bell, a consultant at Public Health England’s local Health Protection Team, told i: “Measles spreads very easily among anyone who has not had two doses of MMR, particularly children, and this is why large outbreaks can occur in local communities. Last year in London, the majority of measles cases were in children aged one

Measles Infects Two Yerushalayim Chasunas, Kever Rashbi in Meron, & Shul in Tiveria

April 7, 2019 7:40 pm 2 Comments

Last Wednesday, a woman participated in two weddings in the Mondial Hall in the Givat Shmuel neighborhood of Jerusalem. It was discovered retroactively that the woman was infected with the measles and thereby possibly infected everyone else at the weddings. According to the Health Ministry, the woman was at the first wedding from 6:45 p.m. until 11:15 p.m. and at the second wedding in between those times from 9:30 p.m. until 9:45 p.m. Everyone who attended those weddings is being asked to head to their regional medical office to get vaccinated and an anti-infection medication. The Health Ministry has also warned anyone who was present at the Kever of the Rashbi on April 3rd between the hours of 12:00 and 2:30 p.m. to head to their regional medical office to get the treatment. A third warning went out with regards to a person infected with the Measles from Tiveria (Tiberias) who visited the Rabbi Amram Ben Diyun Synagogue in the city during those hours on Thursday and Friday the 4th and 5th of April between 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Anyone born after 1957 who visited one of those sites during the specified hours, and has not yet received both vaccinations against the measles is requested to head to the local Health Ministry office to receive the vaccinations. (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Judge Blocks Measles “State of Emergency” in Rockland County, Banning Unvaccinated Children From Public Places

April 7, 2019 7:15 am No Comments

A judge has issued a preliminary injunction against Rockland County’s emergency order banning children from public places unless they’ve been vaccinated against measles. NY State Supreme Court Justice Rolf Thorsen ruled Friday in favor of several dozen parents challenging County Executive Ed Day’s order, part of efforts to stop a measles outbreak that has infected 166 people since October. The 30-day order enacted on March 26 bans unvaccinated people under 18 from gathering places including schools, stores and places of worship and from using public transportation. Civil rights lawyer Michael Sussman called Day’s action “arbitrary and capricious.” The judge said the order “may have been misplaced.” The judge said such emergency orders cannot exceed five days. He also noted that 166 measles cases in a population of 330,000 people over six months doesn’t constitute an “epidemic” meriting an emergency declaration. Following the ruling, Day said in a statement, “While today’s ruling by Judge Thorsen did not go as we had expected I want to commend those here in Rockland who have used this State of Emergency as an opportunity to get vaccinated and have conversations with their friends and neighbors about vaccination. We sought to find a new way to fight back against a disease that was eradicated almost 20 years ago and refused to sit idly by while those in Rockland were put at risk.” (AP)

NOW IN BALTIMORE – The Next Orthodox Jewish Community To Have Measles

April 6, 2019 10:10 pm 4 Comments

Maryland health officials say a case of measles has been confirmed in Baltimore County, and a Pikesville location may have exposed people to the highly contagious, and sometimes fatal, disease. On April 5, the Maryland Department of Health confirmed a measles case in a Maryland resident. State health officials said in a news release that anyone who visited an office building at 4000 Old Court Road in Pikesville on Tuesday, April 2, may have been exposed to measles. Possible exposure times were from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day. People who may have been exposed at additional locations are being notified directly, the department said. YWN has confirmed that at this address is the office of one of most popular pediatricians servicing the Orthodox Jewish community. Measles is a vaccine-preventable virus that can easily be spread to unvaccinated people through coughing, sneezing and oral secretions. It can remain the air for up to two hours. Officials warn anyone who was at the location, particularly those who aren’t vaccinated, to watch for early symptoms, especially fever. Anyone who develops a fever or other symptoms should call their doctor, and shouldn’t go to child care, school, work or out in public so as to avoid putting anyone else at risk. Those with symptoms should call their doctor about their symptoms before arriving to the waiting room so that the office can work to prevent spread to other patients. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

Otisville Prison Bans Visitors After Child With MEASLES Visits

April 4, 2019 5:25 pm 16 Comments

The measles outbreak in New York has taken a new turn, with the announcement on Thursday that prisoners at the Otisville Correctional Facility will not be allowed to have visitors. The decision was made after it was learned that a Jewish child with the measles had visited his father at the facility in recent days. Preliminary information indicates the visitor ban will be in effect until after Pesach, at minimum. The closure has been placed on both the “camp” which houses prisoners with lighter offenses and medium security lockup for prisoners serving longer sentences. This will directly impact not only the dozens of Jewish inmates who desperately want to see their families ahead of Pesach and on Chol Hamoed, but the hundreds of prisoners in the general population at the facility. The child is a Williamsburg resident, where there have been dozens of confirmed cases of measles during a months-long outbreak. Rabbonim have been pleading with people to make sure their children are vaccinated, but the anti-vaaxer community continues to push back. Sadly, the level of anti-Semitism on social media regarding Orthodox Jews who are refusing to vaccinate has exploded, and this latest incident will undoubtedly cause even more hate. Otisville is located about 70 miles northwest of New York City. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

ALERT – Confirmed Measles on El Al Flight From JFK; Flight Attendant in Serious Condition, Placed on Respirator

April 3, 2019 3:00 pm 30 Comments

An El Al flight attendant was hospitalized Wednesday in a serious condition due to a suspected case of measles after a flight from New York to Tel Aviv. The woman is unconscious and has been placed on a respirator at the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba. The Ministry of Health said it was EL AL flight 002 that departed from Kennedy Airport, New York City on March 26 2019 and arrived in Israel on March 27 2019. The Ministry of Health emphasizes that even if you only suspect you developed symptoms of illness and you were aboard this specific flight, you need to immediately contact your general practitioner – preferably call your GP over the phone, and you need to minimize staying in public spaces (e.g. schools, buses, shopping malls, etc.). On a related note, leading Monsey rabbonim have signed a letter telling everyone that they must vaccinate their children: (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

Detroit Measles Outbreak Grows To At Least 34 Cases

April 3, 2019 10:08 am No Comments

There have been four additional cases of measles reported in the metro Detroit area bringing the total to 34. All four came from Oakland County, bringing the number of confirmed cases to its highest number since 1991, according to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services when 65 cases were reported. There are 33 cases in Oakland County and one reported in Wayne County. Infected individuals range in age from 8 months to 63 years old. Nationally, there have been 387 cases of measles confirmed in 15 states this year. MDHHS is working closely with Oakland and Wayne county health departments to identify possible exposure locations. Known exposure sites in Oakland County are listed at Oakgov.com/health. Additional sites of potential exposures may be identified. April 1 • Yeshivas Darchei Torah School, 21550 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. March 29 • Congregation B’Nai Israel: 15400 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 5:30 – 8 p.m. • Bais Haknesses Hagrah, 14561 W. Lincoln Blvd., Oak Park, 7 – 10 a.m. • Beaumont Medical Building, 1st Floor: 3535 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, 2:30 – 5 p.m. • Yeshivas Darchei Torah School, 21550 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. March 28 • Bais Haknesses Hagrah: 14561 W. Lincoln Blvd., Oak Park, 7 – 10 a.m. • Yeshivas Darchei Torah School: 21550 West 12 Mile Road, Southfield, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. • Congregation B’Nai Israel: 15400 W. 10 Mile Road, Oak Park, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. The measles vaccine is highly effective and very safe. A single dose of measles vaccine protects about 95 percent of children, but after two doses, almost 100 percent are immune. The first of two routine childhood measles vaccine doses is given at 12-15 months of age. A second vaccine dose is given before the start of kindergarten, between ages 4 and 6. MDHHS follows Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance and does not recommend routine measles vaccinations for children less than 12 months of age unless there is a suspected measles exposure; there is thought to be an imminent measles exposure such as being in areas of known measles; or international travel planned. Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person was present. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include: • High fever (may spike to over 104˚F). • Cough. • Runny nose. • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis). • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) 2-3 days after symptoms begin. • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms, and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin. If symptoms develop, residents are urged to call their doctor or emergency room before arriving so they can take precautions to prevent exposure to other individuals. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

US Measles Cases At Second Highest Since Disease Was Eliminated In 2000

April 2, 2019 8:00 am 3 Comments

The number of U.S. measles cases through the first three months of this year have surpassed the count for all of 2018, health officials say. There have been 387 cases through March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Monday. There were 372 last year. The numbers are preliminary, and may change. But the 2019 tally is already the most since 2014, when 667 were reported. This year’s numbers have been driven by outbreaks in several states, including New York, California, Illinois, Texas, and Washington. Most people who get measles have not been vaccinated. In the U.S., most outbreaks are sparked by travelers who picked up the virus in countries where measles is more common. Nearly 83,000 people contracted measles in Europe in 2018, the highest number in a decade, according to the World Health Organization. The measles vaccine is 97% effective, according to the CDC. Measles is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it is extremely contagious. For most people, measles is miserable but not life-threatening. The most common symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and a rash all over the body. However, a very small fraction of people get much sicker, and can suffer complications like pneumonia and swelling of the brain. Also, measles can cause pregnant women to deliver prematurely. There have been three measles-related deaths reported in the U.S. since 2000, including two in 2003 and one in 2015. (AP)

Chareidi Woman Exposes Newborns and Others to Measles in Poriah Hospital

April 1, 2019 10:30 am 7 Comments

Dozens of newborn infants were exposed to the measles after a chareidi woman who gave birth in Poriah Hospital in Tiveria exposed them to it. According to the KAN11 News report, the 30-year-old woman arrived in the hospital on Friday and gave birth to her 10th child on Shabbos. According to the report, the woman woke up on Shabbos morning with a rash and went to the nurse’s station asking to be checked. It was determined that she had the measles and had exposed everyone in the surrounding area. After the woman was diagnosed, the decision was made to vaccinate the 26 newborns who were exposed. The Ministry of Health is also conducting an inquiry in checking the other mothers who just gave birth to make sure there were well. Poriah Hospital released the following statement: “The medical center, in coordination with the Ministry of Health, took all necessary measures, including isolation of the mother, to locate others at risk and to vaccinate all who came in contact with her. “It should be emphasized that the issue is being treated and under control, and there is no danger to the exposure of other mothers or patients.” (YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)

MAILBAG: Moster Uses Rockland Measles Outbreak to Smear Yeshivas

March 28, 2019 7:00 am 9 Comments

As reported on YWN, Rockland County has declared a measles state of emergency, the very first of its kind. There is no question that there is a serious problem in the Orthodox Jewish community, especially in Rockland. Measles outbreaks once thought under control continue to spread despite the very best efforts of responsible leaders and medical experts. Anti-Vaxxers continue their irrational refusal to cede any ground despite the overwhelming medical evidence that their position is flawed. While YWN has shared many horror stories over the past few months with the public, despite our very best efforts, the small but stubborn band of Anti-Vaxxers continues to wreak havoc on our unsuspecting community, and we will redouble our efforts to continue sharing and educating the community to the dangers they pose. Speaking of education, immediately following Rockland issuance of their public health emergency, a long time nemesis of the Orthodox community, YAFFED issued a statement of their own using the measles outbreak to further their smear campaign against Yeshivos: Yaffed Executive Director, Naftuli Moster, released the following statement: “There’s no question that the majority ultra-Orthodox and Hasidic parents have their children’s best interests at heart. But even the best parents need guidance, direction, and in some cases assistance, especially when their leaders claim religious exemptions and self-rule. This is true with their inability to contain the measles outbreak, which could lead to death, and with their refusal to provide general educational instruction, as required by law and necessary for economic and academic success. “Rockland County is home to a large Orthodox Jewish community and many yeshivas, where the outbreak is concentrated. According to ABC News, vaccination rates at yeshivas are below 95%, compared to 97-100% at most other schools across the state.‎ “Yaffed has long advocated for greater oversight of Yeshivas, which have repeatedly failed to meet minimum educational standards. Such oversight could also lead to the prevention or reduction in public health emergencies….” How disgraceful. How disingenuous. Measles outbreak? Poor education? Bad drivers? Those Yeshivas again. Over-development? You know it. Name the problem, Moster knows the answer. Yeshivas! Indeed, fundraising off of the Yeshiva issue has become a very good business for Mr. Moster, and be sure he will find other ‘problems’ to fix once the Yeshiva issue is resolved by the courts. One thing remains clear, no one should delude themselves, it’s not education Moster cares about. It is maligning and undermining the Orthodox community at every possible opportunity that drives him. Together with his band of social media warriors Moster and company have successfully turned already biased elected officials into their own useful idiots, pushing their own version of the truth. Like the media’s Trump derangement syndrome, Moster and Company have their own Orthodox derangement syndrome and today’s outrageous exploitation of the Measles crisis proved it once again. Just one question for YAFFED, what curriculum deficiencies caused the measles outbreak happening right now in Washington State? Eliezer Shultz – Rockland County, NY 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. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

MEASLES STATE OF EMERGENCY: Rockland County BANNING Unvaccinated Minors From Public Places Amidst Ongoing Outbreak

March 27, 2019 10:45 am 31 Comments

Rockland County declared a state of emergency Tuesday over a measles outbreak that has infected more than 150 people since last fall, hoping a ban against unvaccinated children in public places wakes their parents to the seriousness of the problem. “It’s an attention grab, there’s no question about it,” Rockland County Executive Ed Day said at a news conference, noting that he didn’t believe such a drastic step has ever been tried in the U.S. before. Day said he was taking the action in hopes of reversing a recent uptick in cases amid disturbing reports that health workers were encountering resistance when investigating cases. Rockland’s outbreak has most heavily affected Orthodox Jewish communities, in which vaccination rates tend to be lower. Under the declaration, which lasts for at least 30 days, anyone under 18 who is not vaccinated against measles is barred from public gathering places, including shopping malls, civic centers, schools, restaurants and even houses of worship. Those in violation could be charged with a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail. Officials report they have had difficulty in getting information from the Orthodox-Jewish communities in Spring Valley, New Square and Monsey where many of cases of Measles have been confirmed: But Day acknowledged that there will be no concerted enforcement effort and that the intent is not to arrest people but to emphasize the seriousness of the situation. “There will not be law enforcement or deputy sheriffs asking for vaccination records. That is ridiculous,” Day said. “However, parents will be held accountable if they’re found to be in violation of this emergency declaration.” The county is experiencing New York state’s longest measles outbreak since the disease was declared officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. Health officials say the best way to stop the disease’s spread is a vaccination rate in the community of 92 to 95 percent. Day said only 72.9 percent of people under 18 have been vaccinated against measles in Rockland County, which has more than 300,000 residents. Civil rights attorney Michael Sussman, who represents the parents of 44 unvaccinated children who were barred from a Waldorf School in the county, said he would discuss a possible challenge to the emergency declaration in a meeting with his clients Tuesday night. “It’s irrational,” Sussman said. “You’re punishing people who don’t have the illness rather than quarantining people who are sick.” Sussman said a quarantine of measles patients and those close to them would quickly stop the disease’s spread. This month, a federal judge, citing the “unprecedented measles outbreak,” denied the parents’ request to let unvaccinated children return to the Waldorf School. The lawsuit said the county’s order banning unvaccinated children from schools regardless of religious or medical exemptions violated their constitutional rights. The outbreak began in the Rockland area when seven unvaccinated travelers diagnosed with measles entered the county last October. There have been 153 cases to date, Day said. In the early days of the outbreak, people were cooperating with health officials and getting children vaccinated, he said, but that has changed. “Our health inspectors have been hung up on and told not to call again. They’ve been told, ‘We’re not discussing this, do not come back,’ when visiting the homes of infected individuals as part of their investigations,” Day said. “This

DETROIT MEASLES ALERT: Nearly 15 Confirmed Cases in Past Week – Most Of Them Adults In Their 40’s

March 25, 2019 9:25 pm 1 Comment

Michigan health officials have confirmed to YWN that there are around 15 confirmed cases of measles in the Detroit area since March 13. Most of the cases are adults. A leading community activist spoke with YWN who said that the highly contagious disease has been linked to a person (an adult) who was visiting from Israel. Just about all the cases are adults who were vaccinated when they were children, but are now more than 40 years old are can easily catch the disease. All the Rabbonim and Roshei Yeshiva in Detroit are urging everyone to check to see if they are in need of boosters. Individuals may have been exposed to measles at the following locations: March 21 Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak – Emergency Department: 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, 10:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Mapleview Liquor Store: 6084 Maple Rd., West Bloomfield Twp., 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park, 8:40 – 11:00 a.m. Dovid ben Nuchim, 14800 Lincoln St, Oak Park, All Day March 20 Brede, Inc.: 19000 Glendale Ave., Detroit, 12:00 -7:30 p.m. Rite Aid: 24850 Greenfield Rd, Oak Park, After 3:30 p.m. Beaumont Medical Building, 1st Floor: 3535 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, After 3:00 p.m. Providence Park Novi Medical Building: 26850 Providence Parkway, Novi, after 1:00 p.m. 7-Eleven, Lincoln St., 15350 Lincoln, Oak Park, 9:20 – 11:30 p.m. Ahavas Yisroel, 25952 Greenfield, Oak Park, 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit: 15230 Lincoln St., Oak Park, 8:00 – 11:30 p.m. Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park , 9:00 p.m. – Midnight Dovid ben Nuchim, 14800 Lincoln St, Oak Park, All Day March 19 Building at 211 W. Fort St., Detroit, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. This building includes Detroit Economic Club, U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Passport Office, and more. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak – 6th Floor, North Tower: 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, 1:00 – 11:00 p.m. Berkley Urgent Care, 3270 Greenfield Rd, Berkley, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. Congregation B’Nai Israel: 15400 W. 10 Mile Rd., Oak Park, All Day Ahavas Olam: 15620 W 10 Mile Rd., Southfield, All Day Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit: 24600 Greenfield Rd., Oak Park, All Day Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit: 15230 Lincoln St., Oak Park, All Day Dovid ben Nuchim, 14800 Lincoln St, Oak Park, All Day March 18 Kroger: 19853 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, 8:00 -11:00 p.m. Berkley Medical Center: 1695 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, 11:15 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Meijer: 28800 Telegraph Rd., Southfield, 1:00 – 4:30 p.m. Yeshivas Darchei Torah School: 21550 W. 12 Mile Rd., Southfield, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Oakland County Circuit Court Building: 1200 N. Telegraph Rd., Bldg.12E, Pontiac, 1:30 – 5:00 p.m. ABC Warehouse: 24725 Southfield Rd., Southfield, 3:30 – 7:00 p.m. Universal Plumbing Supply: 14511 W. 11 Mile Rd., Southfield, 4:40 – 7:30 p.m. Berkley Medical Center, 1695 W. 12 Mile Rd., Berkley, 1:30 – 4:30 p.m. Walgreens, 7380 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 9:30 p.m. – Midnight Kravings, 25270 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 9:00 p.m. – Midnight Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak – Emergency Department & 6th Floor North Tower: 3601 W. 13 Mile Rd., Royal Oak, 2:30 – 11:00 p.m. Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak –

DETROIT MEASLES ALERT: Infected Traveler From Israel Visited Shuls, Schools and Stores

March 14, 2019 3:15 pm 1 Comment

Michigan health officials have confirmed a travel-related case of measles involving a person visiting from Israel. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and the Oakland County Health Division say people may have been exposed this month at several places in the Detroit suburbs of Oak Park and Southfield , including a synagogue, Jewish educational institutions, convenience stores and a pizza restaurant. Officials say the person with measles had stayed in New York, where there’s a measles outbreak. Individuals may have been exposed to measles at the following locations: • Lincoln Liquor & Rx at 25901 Coolidge Highway in Oak Park on Friday, March 8, from 12:20 to 2:45 p.m. • Jerusalem Pizza at 26025 Greenfield Road in Southfield on Tuesday, March 12 and Wednesday, March 13 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Potential exposures may have also occurred daily from March 6 through March 13 at the following locations: • One Stop Kosher Market at 25155 Greenfield Road in Southfield • Ahavas Olam Torah Center at 15620 W. 10 Mile Road in Southfield • Congregation Yagdil Torah at 17100 W. 10 Mile Road in Southfield • Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Detroit at 24600 Greenfield Road in Oak Park • Kollel Institute of Greater Detroit at 15230 Lincoln Street in Oak Park Additional sites of potential exposure may be identified as more information becomes available. Individuals who were possibly exposed are advised to watch for symptoms 21 days after exposure. If symptoms develop, it is crucial to call ahead to the healthcare provider you plan to visit so they can take precautions to prevent exposure in other individuals. Measles is a vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air by a contagious person sneezing or coughing. The virus can live for up to two hours in the air where the infected person coughed or sneezed. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure, but can appear up to 21 days after exposure and may include: • High fever (may spike to over 104˚F) • Cough • Runny nose • Red, watery eyes (conjunctivitis) • Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums, and roof of the mouth (Koplik Spots) 2-3 days after symptoms begin • A rash that is red, raised, blotchy; usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms, and legs 3-5 days after symptoms begin “Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection.” said Dr. Russell Faust, Medical Director for Oakland County Health Division. “Immunizations are the best way to protect our families and communities from vaccine preventable diseases like measles, particularly in light of recent outbreaks nationally and worldwide.” The MMR vaccine is available through some health providers, Oakland County Health Division offices in Southfield and Pontiac, and many pharmacies. Health Division offices are located at the following addresses: • North Oakland Health Center, 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Building 34 East, Pontiac • South Oakland Health Center, 27725 Greenfield Road, Southfield For more information about measles, visit www.oakgov.com/health or call Nurse on Call at 800-848-5533, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For up-to-date public health information, follow @publichealthOC on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. (YWN World Headquarters – NYC)

OUTBREAK: 118 of Rockland County’s 144 Confirmed Measles Cases Were Unvaccinated

March 7, 2019 10:30 pm 5 Comments

The Rockland County Health Department says the number of measles cases has grown to 144 this week in Rockland County. Rockland County has given 16,112 doses of the measles-preventing MMR vaccine since the outbreak started last October. Statistics released by the county Wednesday show that out of the 144 confirmed cases of measles, 118 of the patients say they did not have an MMR vaccine, five people had only one dose and six had two. The outbreak was mostly contained to the Hasidic Jewish community. Dr. Ruppert began excluding unvaccinated children from schools with confirmed cases in the hardest hit areas, including New Square, Spring Valley and Monsey. The county says that out of the vaccinations administered, 11,000 of them were to children ages 1 to 4 years old. (Source: News 12)

Just One Williamsburg Yeshiva Accounted For TWENTY ONE New Cases of Measles This Month

March 1, 2019 2:45 pm 17 Comments

The Health Department today announced the measles outbreak in the Orthodox Jewish community is now at 121 cases since the outbreak began in October. The vast majority of cases are children under 18 years of age (108 cases), and 13 cases are adults. There are no deaths associated with this outbreak, although there have been complications, including eight hospitalizations and one child who was in the intensive care unit. Of the 121 cases, 31 are newly identified, including five diagnosed in the past week and 26 who were identified retrospectively (that is, they recently had the illness and were identified after symptoms subsided). Most cases have been reported from zip codes in Borough Park and Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Four cases, including the initial case of measles, acquired measles on a visit to Israel, where a large outbreak of the disease is occurring. One case was acquired from the U.K. and one from Ukraine. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can cause pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death. Measles is preventable with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Since the outbreak began, the Department has worked with elected officials, community organizations, and religious leaders to conducted extensive outreach in the community to educate residents in these zip codes about the risks associated with measles and the importance of vaccination. This effort has resulted in over 7,000 people receiving the MMR vaccine. As a dad, I urge all parents — particularly in our Orthodox Jewish community — to vaccinate our children. Measles is highly contagious and can be very serious and fatal. The vaccine is safe and effective. Please protect your family and your neighbors. https://t.co/GMHZe41nRS — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 1, 2019 In December, the Department announced mandatory exclusions for students in selected zip codes in Borough Park and Williamsburg that have not received the required number of doses of MMR vaccine. Twenty-one of the 31 additional cases are connected to a single yeshiva in Williamsburg. This yeshiva went out of compliance with the Health Department’s exclusion order in mid-January, allowing an unvaccinated student who had measles but had not yet begun presenting symptoms. Last week, the Department expanded vaccination recommendations for providers serving the Orthodox Jewish community to include an early, extra dose of the MMR vaccine for children between the ages of 6 months to 11 months who live in Williamsburg and Borough Park. “As a pediatrician, I can’t stress enough how critical is to vaccinate children against measles,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot. “Measles is a serious, highly contagious and potentially deadly infection. Complications and fatalities are rare but do happen. I urge parents not to take any risks that may jeopardize their children or other children in their community.” “Parents who oppose vaccinations for measles and all other illnesses not only put their own children at risk, but endanger other children and families as well,” said Councilman Mark Levine (Chair of the Council Committee on Health). “As Israel and other nations are facing outbreaks, the risk of measles affecting our New York communities is particularly acute in neighborhoods where international travel is common and frequent. I strongly urge all parents across the city to ensure their children are up to date on all American Medical Association (AMA) recommended vaccinations.” “The ongoing measles outbreak in

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