Measles Outbreak, Public Health Emergency

by | Apr 11, 2019 | Announcements, Blog, Events

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Health Department Declares Public Health Emergency Due to Measles Crisis

The de Blasio administration today declared a public health emergency in select zip codes following a measles outbreak affecting the Orthodox Jewish community. As part of the declaration, unvaccinated individuals living in zip codes 11205, 11206, 11221 and 11249* who may have been exposed to measles will be required to receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine in order to protect others in the community and help curtail the ongoing outbreak.

(* ZIP code 11249 is the western and southern portion of of the previously larger ZIP code 11211.)
emerg decl area

Under the mandatory vaccinations, members of the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene will check the vaccination records of any individual who may have been in contact with infected patients. Those who have not received the MMR vaccine or do not have evidence of immunity may be given a violation and could be fined $1,000.

Precautions New Yorkers Should Take

º     Measles can be prevented through vaccinations. New Yorkers should call 311 to access a list of facilities that can provide MMR at low or no cost.
º     There are large outbreaks of measles in Europe and Israel, as well as in countries in South America, Africa, and Asia. New Yorkers should make sure they have been vaccinated with MMR vaccine before traveling to Europe or Israel. Infants ages 6 to 11 months should also be vaccinated prior to international travel.
º     New Yorkers who believe they were exposed to measles or who have symptoms of measles should contact their health care provider before seeking care to prevent exposure to other patients.

Links

Read the mayor’s press statement or watch the press conference on YouTube
Download the health commissioner’s emergency order (PDF)
Visit the health department’s measles page

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