Measles Cases Jump Again In Rockland County

NEW CITY, NY — The number of confirmed measles cases in Rockland County jumped to 214 as of May 3 from 206 as of May 1, officials said Friday. That's a week after county officials declared a second state of emergency.

Officials had said they were worried that the outbreak would have spread even further because of Passover, with its community and family celebrations. The outbreak in Rockland, as in Brooklyn and Queens, is centered in Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities.

The original one, which was halted by a restraining order, expired.

The new one will remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. May 25.

The orders require any person diagnosed with measles or exposed to a person diagnosed with measles to be excluded from indoor and outdoor places of public assembly in Rockland County for up to 21 days.

Failure to comply can result in a $2,000 fine per violation per day, county officials said.

Unvaccinated children continue to be the most vulnerable population — four out of five people who have been infected with the virus since the outbreak started in October, health officials said.

Vaccination rates for confirmed measles cases in Rockland County as of May 2:

• 79.7% have had 0 MMRs
• 5.2% have had 1 MMR
• 2.8% have had 2 MMRs
• 12.3% unknown status

Age groups for the confirmed measles cases in Rockland County:

• Less than 1 year old: 12.7%
• 1-3 years: 27.8%
• 4-6 years: 14.6%
• 7-18 years: 26.9%
• 19+ years: 17.9%