Measles outbreak in New York state largest in recent history

(HealthDay)—There have been at least 112 confirmed cases of measles in Rockland and Orange counties and at least 55 in New York City in what officials say is the largest measles outbreak in New York state in recent history.

"If you go back many decades ago when we weren't vaccinating, of course there were probably more outbreaks, but in my memory, I don't know of a measles outbreak that was this significant," Howard Zucker, M.D., the state commissioner of health, said Tuesday, CNN reported. "We have immunized 13,000 children since this outbreak has begun. I would say this is the largest measles outbreak that New York state has had in recent history."

The outbreak has particularly affected Orthodox Jewish communities and began after some children were infected on a visit to Israel in September, the New York City Health Department said. There has been an increase in measles cases across the United States and worldwide, CNN reported.

As of Tuesday, "we have 55 cases confirmed in Brooklyn," Jane Zucker, M.D., assistant commissioner for the Bureau of Immunization at the NYC Health Department, told CNN. She said the largest recent measles outbreak in New York City had 58 cases in 2013. "I'm certainly hoping that there are no further cases and we won't exceed that 58, but we're still in the middle of the outbreak."

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