NEW CITY – Rockland County officials have declared the measles outbreak over.
It began almost a year ago – October 2018 – when seven unvaccinated visitors came into the county and it spread. The last case was reported on September 24, 2019 and the outbreak was officially declared over on Wednesday, September 25.
County Health Commissioner Dr. Patricia Schnabel Ruppert said there were two basic factors that caused the outbreak.
“We have found it to be a combination of those who refused to vaccinate – the anti-vaxxers – and in a much larger number, those parents who create their own immunization schedule by delaying vaccinations – the vaccine hesitant; the vaccine hesitant group unscientifically staggers the vaccinations for their children and leaves them vulnerable to vaccine preventable disease. Many of these previously under-immunized children were immunized with MMR vaccine during this outbreak,” she said.
Since the outbreak began there were 312 reported cases of measles in Rockland.
The health department with community partners including Refuah Health Center, private pediatricians, and family doctors administered 29,027 doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
County Executive Edwin Day credited the efforts of Dr. Ruppert and her health department staff, and the community-at-large for ensuring vaccinations were given.
Officials said measles is a very contagious virus that can be controlled with MMR shots.
