Measles Outbreak 2019: New York State Driving Force Behind Record Outbreak

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed that the latest batch of confirmed measles cases, and the biggest driver of the 2019 outbreak, is the state of New York.

The recent measles outbreak added another 60 confirmed cases last week, bringing the total number of cases for the year up to 764. This is nearly 100 more than 2014, which had the highest number of measles cases in modern history at 667 for the whole year.

Of the new cases from last week, 52 of those were reported in New York state.

New York has been contending with two large outbreaks, one in Rockland County and one in the New York City borough of Brooklyn. The outbreaks had been so bad that public health emergencies were declared to increase vaccinations and to prevent the virus from spreading.

Two of the biggest reasons for this are closely intertwined.

First is the growth of the anti-vaxx movement over the last few years. Despite being based on evidence that the scientific community has argued is outdated or false, the fear of a possible connection between vaccination and learning disabilities like autism.

The other reason is the community where the movement’s beliefs have resonated strongly. The Orthodox Jewish communities have been one of the most susceptible groups to the anti-vaxx movement, with the "The Vaccine Safety Handbook" spreading quickly through many Orthodox communities.

New York has, historically, been home to the largest percentage of Jewish people in America, making it a potential hotbed for outbreaks.

It is further supported when looking at the spread of measles overseas. Israel has seen over 3,000 confirmed cases of measles hit over the last year and the country’s health ministry has struggled to contend with it. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also expressed concern around Passover, emphasizing anyone from New York traveling to Israel and vice versa be properly vaccinated.