Two instances of measles have been confirmed in New York Metropolis, state well being officers introduced. The instances aren’t immediately associated.
The detection of measles within the 5 boroughs comes amid an outbreak of the extremely contagious illness in West Texas, the place 146 instances had been confirmed as of Feb. 28. That outbreak led to the primary measles dying within the U.S. since 2015.
“I encourage anyone not vaccinated against measles to receive at least one dose of the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine and get their children vaccinated with two doses,” New York State Well being Commissioner Dr. James McDonald stated.
Final yr, 14 measles instances had been reported in New York Metropolis, a big improve over the only confirmed case in 2023 and 0 instances from 2020 by means of 2022. Nevertheless, 605 instances had been confirmed throughout an outbreak in 2019.
Elsewhere within the tristate space, three measles instances have been confirmed in Bergen County, N.J. All three instances had been related to a single little one who visited a number of well being care services.
Well being leaders throughout the nation have inspired folks to verify their youngsters obtain the measles vaccine, which is 97% efficient at stopping the illness after two doses.
All three youngsters contaminated in New Jersey had been unvaccinated, officers stated. Of the 146 Texas instances, 79 had been in unvaccinated folks and 62 had been in folks whose vaccination standing had not been decided final week.
AP
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. backed the measles vaccine amid an outbreak in Texas that has already killed one little one. (AP)
“Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” Kennedy wrote.
