The New York City local government has just issued a public health emergency following the spread of measles in various neighborhoods. Along with the emergency announcement, officials also ordered mandatory vaccinations for everyone living in the heavily affected areas.
People living in neighborhoods such as Williamsburg in Brooklyn now have 48 hours to immediately comply with the mandatory vaccination order.
The vaccinations that will be administered will be a combination of different vaccines for diseases such as mumps, rubella, and of course measles. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced earlier in the week that those who will not comply with the mandatory vaccinations will be fined US$1,000 by the city.
Since the measles outbreak began in October of last year, close to 300 people have been diagnosed with the highly contagious viral disease. According to the deputy mayor for Health and Human Services, Dr. Heminia Palacio, citizens should not take measles lightly as it is a very dangerous disease that can cause death in some cases.
Palacio also reiterated that contracting the disease can be prevented very easily with just a simple vaccination. While healthy adults may be able to survive when stricken with the viral disease, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with compromised immune systems may be at greater risk.
According to the health agency, the outbreak had originated from a group of unvaccinated tourist who had traveled to Israel just recently.
The Williamsburg neighborhood in Brooklyn is home to a large Orthodox Jewish population who has mostly refused to vaccinate for religious reasons. The children in these tight-knit communities are particularly at risk of contracting the contagious disease. In response to the various communities' refusal to vaccinate, the city has threatened to close all Jewish schools that still allow unvaccinated children.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the confirmed 465 cases of measles in the country is the second-highest amount since the disease was thought to have been eradicated in the United States in 2000. The CDC has issued a warning to everyone in the country to immediately seek vaccinations as the virus can infect up to 90 percent of unvaccinated individuals.
The agency adds that the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, retaining its potency and immediately infecting anyone without proper vaccinations. Coughs and sneezes from infected people are one of the fastest ways the disease spreads. Those who are infected with the disease will experience symptoms such as runny nose, fever, and rashes. Serious cases can lead to brain swelling, pneumonia, and eventually death.
