New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a public health emergency Tuesday in parts of Brooklyn's Williamsburg section following a measles outbreak affecting the Orthodox Jewish community.
Measles are highly contagious but the vaccination is considered 97% effective, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In February, the department expanded vaccination recommendations for providers serving the Orthodox Jewish community to include an early, extra dose of the vaccine for children between the ages of 6 months to 11 months who live in Williamsburg and Borough Park.
The number of measles cases recorded across the USA rose by almost 100 last week as the annual total continued its march toward record levels, federal health officials reported Monday.