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NEW YORK CITY – The number of measles cases confirmed in New York has risen to 329 since October and, according to the city's health department, the epidemic is expected to worsen over the next 3 to 5 weeks.
"We expect these numbers to continue, given the incubation period," Dr Oxiris Barbot, New York's health commissioner, said on Monday. The symptoms of measles can take up to 21 days after a person's exposure to the virus.
"We are very concerned about Passover and the [spring] Pause is a time when students and families come together, "said Dr. Herminia Palacio, Acting Mayor of Health and Social Services. "It's a very contagious disease. 90% of people who are not vaccinated or immunized and come into contact with a person with measles will be infected. "
The measles epidemic in New York is the largest in the country. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States is experiencing its second most serious measles outbreak since this highly contagious and dangerous disease was declared eliminated in 2000. Up to now, in 2019, there were 555 measles case in 20 states.
There have been 44 new cases of measles in New York since last week, when the health commissioner issued a rare emergency order requiring vaccines for all people living in the areas affected by the outbreak. Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The measles outbreak is mainly prevalent in the Orthodox Jewish community, where vaccination rates are lower, in four postal codes encompassing the greater Williamsburg.
The New York Department of Health also announced Monday the closing of the 3-5 year old United Talmudical Academy in Williamsburg for refusing – or being unable – to disclose the vaccination and attendance records of students attending its clinic. center, a violation of the emergency order of the health commissioner issued last week.
"The school will be allowed to reopen once it convinces us that it is able to consistently keep students in a school that should be in school and keep those who are not in school." 'school,' said Barbot.
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Last week, the commissioner ordered all yeshivas, Jewish religious schools and daycares located in the area of the epidemic to prevent any unvaccinated child from attending school. Twenty-two other yeshivas, Jewish religious schools and daycares have been given notices of violation and may be closed if they do not comply.
Barbot also confirmed Monday that the city had fined people or schools that had chosen not to follow the mandatory vaccination order. The city said people infected with measles who had chosen not to be vaccinated because the mandatory order would be fined $ 1,000.
When asked how much fines had been inflicted, Barbot replied that she did not know it at the time.
Of the 329 cases of measles confirmed in New York, 284 were children and 45 were adults. There were 25 hospitalizations and of the six people who were taken to the intensive care unit, two remained and were in stable condition.
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Health officials in New York said they were working with Jewish Orthodox leaders to fight anti-vaccination campaigns. Dr. Barbot said they had launched automated calls in 30,000 households and mailings detailing all the measures taken to make vaccines safe.
"The vaccine is the way to stop this epidemic," said Palacio. "This anti-vax movement has turned out to be very dangerous. These outbreaks should not occur. We should not have active measles in the United States. Period. Complete stop. "
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