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JTA – US authorities are investigating a complaint filed by an ultra-Orthodox man who allegedly claimed that a bus driver had refused to stop for him at a New York bus stop in Brooklyn as a result of the measles epidemic.
The man said the bus driver pbaded the stop last week in the densely populated area of Williamsburg, but he caught up with him after getting stuck in traffic jams. The bus driver finally let him in, covered his face with his sweater and refused to accept the transfer of the man shouting: "Measles! Come in! "Reported the Brooklyn Paper.
The incident was reported to the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority on Thursday by the Williamsburg Unified Jewish Organizations, which are working with the city to curb the measles outbreak by educating the community and encouraging vaccination, according to The Forward.
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"The measles outbreak should not be used as an excuse for anti-Semitism," the group said in a tweet.
A second tweet from the group added: "In reality, about 95% of the community is vaccinating. We, the rabbis and community leaders, work tirelessly to increase it. Not a justification to attack the entire community for the flaws of a few. "
This photo taken on April 5, 2019 shows a nurse preparing the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine at the Rockland County Health Department in Haverstraw, Rockland County, New York. (Johannes Eisele / AFP)
The incident reportedly took place days before New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency over the measles epidemic in the ultra-Orthodox community of Brooklyn.
Since October, 285 cases of measles have been reported in the Orthodox Jewish community of Brooklyn, including 246 children. The Brooklyn epidemic was linked to an unvaccinated child who contracted the disease during a trip to Israel, the Washington Post reported.
Rabbi David Niederman, president of the United Jewish Organization, told Brooklyn Paper that Haredi Jews in Williamsburg are being harbaded in the street by people shouting "Jews, measles."
"The MTA has zero tolerance for discrimination. We take this issue very seriously and we investigate, "said Max Young, the MTA's external relations officer.
De Blasio also said that his office had been in contact with the MTA as a result of the incident. "Antisemitic discrimination has no place in our city," he said.
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