Amid National Outbreaks, Rockland, Brooklyn Hit 186 Measles Cases

ROCKLAND COUNTY, NY — The major measles outbreak continues, with 124 confirmed cases in Rockland County and 62 in Brooklyn. One suspected case is being monitored in Rockland.

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a public health emergency when their measles outbreak reached 30 cases. By issuing a State of Emergency, Inslee officially implemented the state's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and reportedly made available state resources to assist local agencies and departments respond to and recover from the outbreak. Washington's Department of Public Health is requiring exclusion of students and staff without documented immunity to measles from schools, child care and other congregate settings.

SEE: WA Measles Outbreak Leads To State Of Emergency

Now in New York, Rockland and Brooklyn between them have reported 186 cases since October, all connected to travel to and from Israel. Rockland reported 124 as of Jan. 29. New York City health officials reported 62 confirmed cases as of Jan. 23.

Most of the cases in Rockland — 81 percent — have been in those 18 years of age and younger, said John Lyon, Director of Strategic Communications in the County Executive's Office.

Rockland County officials began invoking state law on disease outbreaks back when there were 11 cases confirmed. County officials received authority from the New York State Health Department Oct. 15 to require unvaccinated students to keep away from certain schools.

SEE: Outbreak: Unvaccinated Kids Must Stay Home From Some Schools

The rule required public and private schools where there were high rates of unvaccinated children to keep those children home until the outbreak was over or the school's vaccination rate had risen to a designated level. In early January officials upped it to a 95 percent rate, which affected 59 schools. So far, Lyon said, 29 schools have met that level.

Every confirmed case of measles is the subject of a full epidemiological investigation. Inspectors from the county Health Department interview those who are ill and retrace their steps to make notifications about possible measles exposure when necessary. The State DOH has also been involved on a daily basis, providing staff, support and testing for samples during the outbreak. They participate in every call Rockland officials have to update confirmed cases numbers, and help discuss strategies.

In addition, since the outbreak began in October, more than 14,000 MMR vaccinations have been given in Rockland by New York state's health department, the county health department, community healthcare providers and private physicians, Lyon said.

The public health response to the current measles outbreak, which is the largest in New York State in decades, has been unprecedented, said a spokesman for the New York State Health Department.

• Without the need for an emergency declaration, DOH activated its Incident Management System on October 15 and has been holding regular public health emergency preparedness calls to coordinate the response to the outbreak with County Health Officials and local providers.
• School and daycare exclusions have been very effective at motivating parents to agree to get their children vaccinated with MMR. To date, school exclusions have been implemented in more than 29 schools or daycares.
• In response to the outbreak, Rockland County has excluded more than 3,400 unvaccinated children at additional schools that are either located in close proximity to cases or that have vaccination rates below 95%.
• DOH and Rockland County have held numerous vaccination clinics to provide additional opportunities for families to be vaccinated to avoid school exclusions. Since the beginning of the outbreak, more than 14,000 have received a dose of MMR vaccination.
• Commissioner Zucker and the Rockland County Health Commissioner, have had meetings with the Rabbinical leadership who continue to be very supportive of our expanded efforts in the community, including expanded school and daycare exclusions. The Commissioners also met with a group of mothers and a group of pediatricians in the community to discuss the importance of vaccination.
• DOH has implemented a public awareness campaign in and around the community with signage posted at nearby airports to alert international travelers to the risk of measles, and to create appropriate (images and language) signage, doorhangers and leaflets to blanket the observant community with key messages.

"We will continue our aggressive, multi-pronged response, until it is clear the outbreak has been contained," NYDOH said.

In New York and in Washington, communities with low immunization rates are at the center of the outbreaks. In both Brooklyn and Rockland, the cases have primarily been in the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, linked to travel to or from Israel where a massive outbreak is ongoing.

SEE ALSO:

• First Confirmed Measles Case In CT In 2019
  
• Clark County Measles Outbreak Latest: 35 People Confirmed

PHOTO/ Centers For Disease Control

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