New Square Officials Urge MMR Vaccinations To End Outbreak

NEW SQUARE, NY — Since the measles outbreak began in Rockland County in October, more than 19,000 MMR vaccines have been given. As of May 1, there have been 206 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland in the past seven months, and officials know that there have been many more unreported cases.

The county declared a second state of emergency Thursday after the original one, which was halted by a restraining order, expired.

The outbreak in Rockland is centered in the Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities of Monsey, New Square and Spring Valley where non-immune visitors to or from Israel brought in the disease and passed it on.

Globally, measles cases saw a 30 percent uptick in 2017 and killed an estimated 110,000 people, according to the World Health Organization. The main reason for the increase in Europe, where 41,000 people were infected in the first six months of 2018, was the refusal by parents to have their children vaccinated, the global health agency said.

The measles virus is so highly contagious that an unvaccinated person who shares close space with an infected person who sneezes or coughs has a 90 percent chance of contracting the illness.The virus is hearty, and can live for up to two hours in an airspace where an infected person coughed or sneezed, even after that person has left. People who have measles can spread it to many others from four days before a rash appears to four days after it has cleared.

The way to prevent measles is vaccination, isolation of infected people, and isolation of unvaccinated people who have been exposed to the virus.

New Square is supportive of county and state efforts to contain and end the measles outbreak, said Mayor Israel Spitzer. Village leaders recognize the urgent need to increase immunization compliance and pledge support and continued collaboration.

Since the outbreak began in early October 2018, New Square has worked with Rockland County Executive Ed Day and his office, local schools, and Refuah Health Center to provide increased outreach and education aimed at combating vaccine hesitancy and increasing recommended immunizations, officials said.

They will continue to facilitate collaboration between the New Square community
and local and state partners, with the hopes that through increased efforts on all fronts the
outbreak will be contained and ended, he said.

Village officials urge residents:

All adults born after Jan. 1, 1957 should check their vaccination records to see if they have received two (2) measles or MMR vaccines. For children and individuals who are not immunized or for those who are unsure of their vaccination history, please contact your primary care provider.

An MMR vaccine provides the most effective protection against the measles and could provide protection against this exposure or future exposures. With two doses, the MMR vaccine can be 97% effective in providing immunity.

Refuah Health Center continues to offer vaccinations at all Rockland County locations. For more information, please contact your primary care provider or Refuah Health Center at 1.845.354.9300.