There was a measles outbreak in Brooklyn in March. That means there was a vaccination problem in Brooklyn.
In March, New York City health authorities saw a sudden rise in measles cases in several densely populated Orthodox Jewish communities.
The disease quickly spread. Among the 58 measles cases reported thus far, a child contracted pneumonia and two pregnant women were hospitalized, according to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. One of the women had a miscarriage.
Very sad, when measles shouldn’t be around at all.
The department traced the outbreak to a person who it concluded brought the virus from a trip to London, says Jay Varma, the department’s deputy commissioner for disease control. Overall, vaccination rates are high in the communities, he says, but the outbreak then started in a small group of families with members who refused vaccines, he says.
Refused vaccines, but continued to mingle with other people.
While measles no longer circulates freely in the U.S., health authorities still battle outbreaks. All states require that children receive vaccinations before attending school, with some exceptions for medical reasons.
But many states grant religious or philosophical exemptions, creating pockets of vulnerability.
In other words, it’s not the case that “all states require that children receive vaccinations before attending school.” Many states don’t require that at all, because those exemptions are freely given.
No doubt it’s all part of god’s plan.