Gulf Today

New York mayor declares measles emergency

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NEW YORK: New York’s mayor declared a public health emergency in parts of Brooklyn, ordering all residents to be vaccinated to fight a measles outbreak concentrat­ed in the ultra-orthodox community.

The order concerns all people living or working in four zip codes of Williamsbu­rg, northwest Brooklyn, where some residents oppose vaccines on religious grounds - although neither texts nor local authoritie­s advise against vaccinatio­n.

“It was time to take a more muscular approach,” de Mayor Bill de Blasio told a news conference as the emergency measures were announced.

“This can be turned around quickly,” he said. “We can stop this.” Under the new rules, anyone who has not received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine or does not have evidence of immunity risks a fine of $1,000.

The city also warned that yeshiva religious schools and day care programs serving the local Orthodox community would face penalties and possible closure if they keep taking in students who are not vaccinated against measles, which can cause severe diarrhea, pneumonia and vision loss and can potentiall­y be fatal.

Like all but three American states, New York requires a series of vaccinatio­ns for school-age children but has until now granted exemptions on both medical and religious grounds.

Since October, however, 285 cases of measles have been confirmed in New York City, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). None proved fatal, but 21 patients required hospital is at ion and five were admit ed to intensive care.

“I urge everyone, especially those in affected areas, to get their MMR vaccines to protect their children, families and communitie­s,” de Blasio said in a statement. “There’s no question that vaccines are safe, effective and life-saving.” That message was echoed by Dr Herminia Palacio, deputy mayor of health and human services.

“When you make the decision not to vaccinate your child, please understand you’re also making that decision for the people around your child,” warned Palacio, who said her services had received reports of so-called “measles parties” held to purposely expose children to the disease.

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