By COLlive reporter
A case of measles has been confirmed in the Crown Heights neighborhood, following widespread outbreaks around the US and Israel, including many Orthodox Jewish communities.
A Crown Heights doctor has confirmed to COLlive that there was indeed a case in Crown Heights, which he has confirmed with the Department of Health.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Young children, the immunocompromised, and non-immune pregnant women are at highest risk for severe complications. Measles is transmitted by airborne particles, droplets, and direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person.
This week, Rockland County in New York has declared a countywide State of Emergency relating to the ongoing measles outbreak Tuesday afternoon.
The Health Department recommends the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine for children at age 12 months, with a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. Two doses of MMR are required to attend kindergarten through grade 12.
Children attending daycare, nursery school, Head Start and pre-K are required to have one dose of MMR vaccine. All persons, including infants ages 6 to 11 months should be vaccinated prior to international travel. Parents should keep ill children at home and not send them to daycare or school. If there is measles in a student, all unvaccinated children – including those with a medical or religious exemption – will be excluded and unable to attend the daycare or school for 21 days after their last exposure.
Measles is a highly contagious disease. Young children, the immunocompromised, and non-immune pregnant women are at highest risk for severe complications. Measles is transmitted by airborne particles, droplets, and direct contact with the respiratory secretions of an infected person.
Measles typically presents in adults and children as an acute viral illness characterized by fever and generalized rash. The rash usually starts on the face, proceeds down the body, and may include the palms and soles. The rash lasts several days. Infected individuals are contagious from four days before rash onset through the fourth day after rash appearance.
If you think you were exposed to measles, contact your health care provider before going to the facility so they can prevent exposure to other patients. Tell the medical staff if you have fever and a rash and about any known exposures or international travel. You can prevent measles by making sure you and your family have received two doses of MMR vaccine.
Health care providers should ensure that adults and children over the age of 6 months who are traveling outside the U.S. have documented immunity to measles. In addition to the large outbreak currently going on in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in Israel, there are large outbreaks in Europe; in the first six months of 2018, over 41,000 cases of measles and 37 deaths have been reported. Countries most affected include Serbia, Ukraine, Georgia, Greece, Romania, Italy, France, Slovakia, Russia and the United Kingdom, although all countries in Europe have reported cases. There are also outbreaks in many other parts of the world, including countries in Asia, South America and Africa.
Suspected persons with measles should be reported immediately to the Health Department. For more information, visit www.nyc.gov/health and search for “measles.”
If you child does not get vaccinated then you will have to be concern about your kids health
I would be curious to know how big the anti vaccine community is in Crown Heights is. How many percent of Crown Heighters don’t vaccinate their kids? How many kids per class? Would be interested to know the statistics.
There is only One in charge of this world. He decides Who will live and Who will die… We live in a false world. You can never know the true numbers. The only scenario that is 100 percent avoidable is vaccine related injury.
Regardless of any incentive an organization has to promote vaccines, the fact is the World Health Organization and other mainstream experts advise that vaccination is an important combatant to the spread of disease. In medicine there are almost always complications and negative side effects that can result but we weigh the risks of taking a medicine or surgery vs. the consequence of not taking it. Lack of vaccination has consequences to our communal health.
And reread again. And again
There is not enough substantial evidence to convince us all that vaccines are indeed as safe as they claim. You can scream it louder and louder but that doesn’t help your argument to prove its safety.
Unfortunately many of us have seen vaccine injury and that’s enough to convince us to stay away until proven otherwise.
I had rubella twice as a child and discovered that I and my daughters don’t build up immunity to this disease which almost always causes serious birth defects. We get a shot after giving birth. I am petrified that my daughters would get sick from a child with a selfish mother who inot only puts her children at risk, endangers everyone. Vaccinate!!!
With all the contradictory information being thrown around, your honesty is refreshing. I wish all doctors would take Informed Consent and the Hippocratic Oath as seriously as you do.
there has yet to be one documented case of measles that came about through “shedding” – just saying..
Health reasons . Safety concerns.
I think we need to realize this disease is from Hashem. He created it and is the One making it spread and He decides who should get it, among ithose who are vaccinated and those who are not! I think respecting each other and achdus, real achdus will go a lot further, and bring more healing to all those who need and to the world! May we merit והסרותי מחלה מקרבך, and
the Geula now which will bring and end to all these. מחלות ר” ל.
From one whose children recently had the measels
Perhaps the numbers are or seem to be larger among frum yiddin because we have lsrge families, so if it gets to a family theres alot more cases right there than amongst families innother states with one or two children. Does not make sense to blame on orthidox jews!
ONE case of measles in ch…..
A serious threat?! there were many cases of the cold being spread around this winter and yes, it’s possible to die or have serious life altering conditions from the cold if complications arise.
But the cold itself, is contagious and a illness, that we rather not catch.
Why is there no media outcry about the cold going around?! Well, it’s because there’s no vaccine for it….. No need to scare anyone regarding an outbreak into vaccinating. Either way Re #35, aft
What is the reason why Frum jews do not vaccinate their kids, Is it because of religious reasons?
Your math is off, and so is your logic. How can it be that the CDC reports 15 states with a total of 314 cases in 2019 so far, but YOU are saying that in two NY areas alone there are 317 cases? Are you saying that the you know more than the CDC about the current (2019) situation? Are you saying that the other 14 states don’t really have measles cases? Your math, or your statistics, or your logic — or all three — are suspect or off. Do your homework and then come back with the truth, and… Read more »
And the anti-vaxxers are just the easiest group to point at. But let’s use logic here….. something about this herd immunity does not make sense if most of the ppl getting these diseases were vaccinated…and don’t forget most of the pro vaxxers may not even realize that they are not immune unless they check it. Somehow this vaccine is not building immunity in everyone , or some ppls are weakening their immunity quicker than predicted. something is not adding up…but b4 pointing fingers have your blood Checked. And just cz someone isn’t immune, it doesn’t mean they were the one… Read more »
Hi!
The media reports are not saying this is centered in the orthodox areas to defame yidden, this is the truth of the matter. Out of those 314 cases across the country, 156 in Rockland county and 161 in Williamsburg, according to the CDC as referenced above. To claim this is some form of anti semitism is untrue.
We have to face this problem, that is here in our community and think of solutions.
Sadly, this is a chillul Hashem.
-S. Baez
No it is not confined to or the fault of ‘the Jews’.
Can we know the specific school and doctor office of the measles patient so we mothers can worry about exposure…
March 22, 2019— Ray Andrew I am running into increasing numbers of patients/parents who decline to receive vaccinations. I don’t call them “anti-vaxxers” because that is the most immature way I can imagine to refer to another human being with an opinion, whether I consider it informed or not. Name-calling is what people do in politics when they don’t have an intelligent response to an opposing party’s argument or viewpoint. This is supposed to be science, not politics. Based on my experience, those who choose not to vaccinate care just as much about their children as you and I do.… Read more »
Could COL please post information where a person could go to get an MMR in crown heights. Perhaps a Dr’s office would be willing to provide such service, at least during the outbreak, that would make it accessible to those who need a vaccine, such as out of towners or people who pushed it off
No one knows for sure that the case is measles … maybe we all need to keep sick kids home from day 1 and not send anymore kids with temperature to the day cares /schools /yeshiva or maybe our schools must be more strict not to accept any student that is sick 😷
But it’s still the fault of people who don’t vaccinate?
This does not make sense to me!
The MMR is a live vaccine, which means that the virus is weakened but not dead, therefore after becoming vaccinated it can shed the live illness for 7 to 28 days.
Who is more likely to spread? The recently vaccinated or the healthy not vaccinated? 2hichever the media is pointing fingers at, of course!
Children that are not vaccinated are not disease spreaders!
Stop pointing fingers!
Herd immunity can be achieved once people were exposed to the diseased and people have built resistance to it.
Therefore the pharmaceutical industry concluded that vaccinating will do the same thing,…. However this is not proven and only causes debate were people are trying to push each other to vaccinate
Two doses of MMR vaccine are about 97%effective at preventing measles; one dose is about 93% effective. People who were vaccinated prior to 1968 with either inactivated (killed) measles vaccine or measles vaccine of unknown type should be revaccinated with at least one dose of live attenuated measles vaccine. This recommendation is intended to protect people who may have received killed measles vaccine which was available in the United States in 1963 through 1967 and was not effective. Persons vaccinated before 1979 with either killed mumps vaccine or mumps vaccine of unknown type who are at high risk for mumps infection (such as persons… Read more »
With so many cases in Williamsburg and Boro park it’s no surprise that it came to crown heights. I hope and pray it doesn’t spread.
Vaccines only work with here immunity. The community of anti vaxxers are putting at risk people who cannot become immune for whatever reason. There’s a reason vaccines were created, the illnesses killed and mamed many, they’re not perfect but for the years before the anti vaccination uprise, your didn’t hear of such outbreaks. Why should I have to worry that my 2 month old neice might contract measles because I was exposed to the measles?? It’s wrong. Not vaccinating is not a personal choice, you endanger the community at Large.
That for reasons we cannot fathom, certain individuals do no have immunity despite being vaccinated, however the re-emergence of formerly eradicated illnesses puts the general population at risk, so it is prudent TO immunize unless one’s doctor, who has been consulted, advises otherwise.
Unfortunately, those purporting their anti-vaxxing views are not taking into account that their decisions are effecting the general population, a grossly unfair position, to say the least!
Refuah shlaima for your daughter.
Two of my children who got their mmr vaccines as they were supposed to, got mumps (mmr= measles, mumps, rubella). Vaccinating does not always make one immune.
I got 2 MMR shots as a child but as a young adult I had my titers measured and had ZERO immunity. It was as if I had not gotten a single MMR. I got a 3rd MMR and low and behold, 1.5 years later, titers showed zero immunity, again, as if I never got the vaccine. Tell me again that vaccines are 97% effective after 2 shots? Shouldn’t a 3rd guarantee immunity? Nope. Because that’s not how vaccines work. The health dept does not let me get a 4th. Do you know why? Because they have no idea the… Read more »
I WON ????!!!!!! because anti-vaxxers cannot go to school etc. and the fact that I,got sick despite being vaccinated, PROVES ???!!!! that vaccines DON’T work.
This line of thinking takes no responsibility for the fact that by NOT vaccinating, illnesses are re-emerging after being eradicated for decades. I would therefore suggest that this child who was vaccinated but still contracted measles, just as I contracted another illness, can be related to the re-emergence of these diseases which exist in the air that we breathe and therefore our immune systems are weakened no matter what our age!
Penina Metal
How to protect?
The girl is fully vaccinated.
I don’t know if this person was vaccinated or not or if he had a reason he was not able to vaccinate
The main thing is that the more people that are vaccinated the less likely that other people will catch it
There are some reasons that people can’t vaccinate for medical reasons for eg. If they have cancer r”l it is not right for these people that if you for your selfish reasons don’t vaccinate they are more likely to catch it
Please vaccinate
Just to clarify, because with all due respect I believe you have misunderstood something here. Yes, vaccinations are not 100% effective (in particular the measles vaccine is considered about 97% effective after two doses, but this immunity may wane with time). But if you’re part of the vast majority of vaccinated people – 97% – it doesn’t matter if you’re the only vaccinated person in the world, or if everyone is – you’re still immune. The threshold for “herd immunity” which you refer to (which for measles specifically is estimated at 93-95%) is the level necessary to prevent _people who… Read more »
Which doctor in CH confirmed the case?
Why are “orthodox jews” not vaccinating? Do they claim it’s for religious beliefs? Complications of vaccinations? Knowledge?
What precautions is the community and schools taking? What are they doing now?
Get vaccinated, this is ridiculous and you do understand that people that were vaccinated will also get these diseases as well. Vaccinations only work if we have 90-95% of the population vaccinated.
If the Rebbe were alive the sharpness of his message would put these anti-vaxxers to shame.
No one is “jumping to conclusions,” about whether or not the person was or was not vaccinated. They are just ASKING! There is no reason for you to accuse them of “running to blame” or to say “shame on you” for asking. There are good reasons to ask, whether you are “anti-vax” or “pro-vax.” And I am pro-vax! During the mumps situation several years ago, many, many of those who got the mumps had been vaccinated for the mumps. As a result, protocol for mumps vaccination changed from then on, to increase people’s immunity to the mumps. Even if the… Read more »
One case an outbreak does not make… When was this? This case could already be over. No exposure places listed? Enough with the hype and report detailed facts. Why the consistently biased reporting? As for the commenters, and the obsessive focus in the article on vaccination: Yes, obviously vaccination will reduces cases. But the factor responsible for most of these outbreaks is not the handful of unvaccinated children, many of whom have parents with valid concerns. The issue is “secondary vaccine failure” that were seeing the vaccine not be as long lasting as once thought. Virtually all cases in several… Read more »
Answer to #5. Vaccinated people against measles don’t contract the disease. Get yourself vaccinated immediately if you haven’t done so. At 57 years old and I am still immune against Measles because my mother followed the law and vaccinated my brothers and I as children. How do I know that I’m still immune? Just did a blood test to check my immunity level. Still high, after all these years. So, yeah vaccinated people are immune.
More facts (were they vaccinated, how old, which school etc)
Sorry to say but the person was vaccinated just shots don’t always work
Every single story the media carries about this year’s measles outbreaks characterizes the issue as being “Orthodox Jewish.” But this makes it sound like the Orthodox Jews are “Typhoid Mary,” which feeds into a lot of classic, old anti-Jewish diatribe. I am NOT here to minimize ANYTHING: Measles is a dreadful illness and my household is completely vaccinated for it, baruch Hashem. AT THE SAME TIME, I just checked the CDC Website, and they said: From January 1 to March 21, 2019, 314 individual cases [As of March 21: that’s one week ago] of measles have been confirmed in 15… Read more »
Guess what, even if the person WAS vaccinated, it’s still the fault of non-vaxxers. Vaccines are not 100% effective, they only work properly when herd immunity is in place. Measles was eliminated in the US in 2000 (eliminated does not mean eradicated, rather that there were no new cases or a very low defined target rate of new cases in the US) and yet, 19 years later here we are with measles outbreaks prevalent. The only reason measles returned with such furvor is because so many people stopped vaccinating their children. So yes, it is their fault, no jumping to… Read more »
Why does it matter if the person was vaccinated or not, the point was that if a person isn’t vaccinated they have to take extra precautions to not expose people who cannot be vaccinated, not because of so called “religious” reasons, but because of actual medical reasons!!
How old was the individual with measles? Infants under 12 months don’t get vaccinated, it is possible that it was an infant who did not yet have a chance to get vaccinated. But it is important to get vaccinated and this story should be used to raise awareness, just make sure the facts are clear, otherwise you will undermine the cause.
Before 1989, adults were given only one dose and need to check if they are immune or need another shot.
Thanks for the news. Now what? What school? What are we supposed to do?
wonder what the percentage of vaccinated people will come with a negative (not immune) result.
The main question was not answered What was his name.
Jumping to conclusions, eh? Running to blame – Shame on you!
Everyone make sure to vaccinate your children
Don’t be selfish.
Lets report the facts please. Was this a vaccinated individual who contracted the measles?
Vaccinate your children!
This is something science, the Torah and the Rebbe all make crystal clear.
Hopefully this would be a wake up call to the ppl that think about themselves and only themselves…