Outbreak: Unvaccinated Kids Must Stay Home From Some Schools

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY – With 11 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland, six of them locally-caused, County Health Commissioner Patricia Schnabel Ruppert issued a letter Thursday to schools that were attended by students with confirmed cases of measles. The letter requires that students in those schools who are not vaccinated must stay home as of Oct. 18.

The law authorizes the Commissioner of the State Department of Health or his or her designee to require unvaccinated students to stay home during a disease outbreak, which includes measles. There are currently 11 confirmed cases of measles, and three more are being investigated.

Dr. Ruppert was designated Wednesday evening by Dr. Howard Zucker, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Health, as having authority to order schools in Rockland County to take appropriate steps to protect the students at local schools. This order was pursuant to 10 NYCRR § 66-1.10.

This designation remains in place through Dec. 31. (Sign up: Get real time New City Patch news alerts and our free daily newsletter.)

Officials would not release the names and locations of the schools, nor would they say how many students are involved.

Rockland residents have been exposed to measles three times in the past month. The first case of an international traveler with measles was in late September, and more cases due to separate international travelers, three from Rockland and one from abroad in early October, are leading to more cases of measles among non-immune residents, officials said.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus that is spread by direct contact with nasal or throat secretions of infected people, so anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease.

People who are unvaccinated risk getting infected and spreading it to others, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.

Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children, as it can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, deafness, and death. About one out of four people who get measles will be hospitalized.

Students are considered protected against measles if they have received the Measles­ Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine.

Unless otherwise indicated, two doses of MMRvaccine are required for a student to remain in school.

• Students who have not received their first dose of MMR vaccine as of October 18, 2018: Any student who has not received their first dose of MMR vaccine cannot be allowed to attend school for 21 days after the last date of exposure, which at the time of this letter is October 12, 2018. This means that these students must remain at home until November 3, 2018, even if they receive their first dose of MMR vaccine during this period of time.
• K-12 students with 1 dose of MMR vaccine as of October 18, 2018: Students in kindergarten through twelfth grade, with 1 dose of MMR vaccine must remain home until November 3, 2018, unless they receive their second dose of MMR vaccine. These students may return at any time after receiving this second dose.
• Pre-kindergarten students with 1 dose of MMR as of October 18, 2018: Students in pre­kindergarten with 1 dose of MMR are up-to-date for age and do not have to remain home from school. However, it is recommended that they receive a second dose of MMR vaccine.

If additional cases of measles occur in these schools, students who have not received their first dose of MMR vaccine will need to remain home for an additional 21 days after the date of last exposure in the schools.

Previously unvaccinated children who receive the first dose of MMR vaccine between October 18, 2018, and November 3, 2018, may return to school on or after November 3, 2018. If the outbreak persists past November 3, 2018, these students must get a 2nd dose 28 days after they received the 1st dose or they will need to remain home.

As part of 10 NYCRR § 66-1.10, all schools keep a current list of susceptible students for use during disease outbreaks. Rockland County Department of Health personnel will be assisting the affected schools with daily monitoring to ensure unvaccinated children are staying home.

“These measures and precautions are necessary to protect unvaccinated students from measles. I recommend that parents of children who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated see their medical provider as soon as possible so they can receive their first or second dose of MMR vaccine,” said Commissioner Ruppert. “We want these affected students to be able to return to their places of learning and encourage these schools to take any appropriate steps available to allow students to continue their coursework from home.”

Individuals who are not immune to measles are at risk for developing measles if exposed to it. The single best way to prevent measles is to be vaccinated. If you are not immune to measles, MMR vaccine or a medicine called immune globulin may help reduce your risk of developing measles. Check with your health care provider to see if you are up-to-date with your measles vaccination, if not, schedule an appointment to get vaccinated.

You can also attend the Health Department’s free MMR vaccine clinics on:

• Thursday, October 18th from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Community Outreach Center, located at 21 Remsen Avenue, Suite 201, Monsey, NY
• Friday, October 19th from 9:30am to 11:30am located at Pascack Community Center, 87 New Clarkstown Road, Nanuet NY

Call 845-364-2997 for more information about the MMR vaccine clinics. For information about measles, call the New York State Department of Health toll free Measles Information Line at (888) 364-4837.

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