5 additional yhivas in Bklyn allow unvaccinated students to go to school after a measles outbreak

The Ministry of Health Issues Orders from the Commissioner Requiring Five Yeshivas School Staff to Comply with Mandatory Exclusions from the School or to Fines Offending

The NYS Department of Health announced last week that five other yeshivas in Brooklyn had allowed unvaccinated children to attend school, which was contrary to the Ministry of Health's directive during the measles outbreak. The Ministry of Health issued orders from the Commissioner this week forcing the following Yeshiva school staff to abide by mandatory exclusions or punishable violations: Bnos Square Williamsburg (382 Willoughby Ave), Bnos Chayil (712 Wythe Ave), Bnos Chayil (345 Hew St), Tiferes Bnos (585 Marcy Ave) and Simche Kinder (808 Myrtle Ave).

Schools have been identified during audits to ensure compliance with the Exclusion Directive. In three of the five schools, students were infectious. Measles is a very contagious disease and can cause pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and death. Measles is preventable with measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR).

"As a city doctor and pediatrician, I am very concerned that children who are not vaccinated against measles are at unnecessary risk for severe, even fatal, measles-related symptoms," said Dr. Oxiris Barbot. health commissioner. "The epidemic is not over and we will continue to see other cases as long as unvaccinated students are not properly excluded from school attendance."

"Parents who oppose measles vaccines and all other diseases not only endanger their own children, but endanger other children and their families," said Councilman Mark Levine (Chair of the Board Health Committee). "While Israel and other countries face epidemics, the risk of measles that affects our New York communities is especially acute in neighborhoods where international travel is frequent and frequent. I urge all parents in the city to ensure that their children are aware of the vaccinations recommended by the American Medical Association (AMA). "

"Vaccinating children is one of the most basic ways a parent can protect the health of their child," said Councilman Chaim Deutsch (Brighton Beach, Marine Park, Midwood). "These new cases of measles outbreaks within the Orthodox community are worrisome, especially for parents of children too young to be fully immunized against measles. I urge parents traveling with young children to follow the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and vaccinate their children. I thank the Department of Health for its outreach and information dissemination efforts to ensure the protection of families in the state of New York. "

The measles epidemic in the Orthodox Jewish community has risen to 158 since its appearance in October. The vast majority of cases are children under 18 (137 cases) and 21 adults. There were no deaths badociated with this outbreak, although there were complications, including 11 hospitalizations and a child who was in the intensive care unit. During the past week, the Department has identified 25 cases: nine diagnosed last week and 16 retrospectively (that is, they had recent illness and were identified after symptoms disappeared). ).

Most of these recent cases come from Williamsburg, but two from Borough Park, Brooklyn. Since the beginning of the epidemic, five people, including the first case of measles, have contracted measles during a visit to Israel, where a major epidemic is underway. One case was acquired from the United Kingdom and another from Ukraine. None of the last 25 cases added is related to a trip.

In February, the Department expanded vaccination recommendations for providers serving the Jewish Orthodox community to include an additional early dose of MMR vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 months living in Williamsburg and Borough Park. .