Israel’s Health Ministry has released yet another measles alert, this time for passengers on an El Al flight.
The alert is for passengers who were on board El Al flight LY2652, which left Kiev and landed in Ben-Gurion International Airport a few days ago. They are being informed it has been learned one passenger had the measles. Persons who flew on the flight and showing signs and symptoms of the illness are instructed to visit their family physician immediately. No exact date was given for the flight, which is not daily.
Unfortunately, the spread of measles is prominent in the frum world, in North America as well, leading to at least 2000 people in Monsey getting vaccinated since the outbreak, as reported by YWN.
Meanwhile, Health officials in Rockland County say the number of people infected with measles has more than doubled in the last few days. There are now 33 confirmed cases and doctors say they’re monitoring 5 other patients who may also have the virus.
YWN reported last Wednesday that the CHEMED Health Clinic in Lakewood was urging people to make sure they get vaccinated after there was a suspected case in the community.
There have been dozens of stories published by YWN in the past few months of measles alerts issued by authorities involving Frum people who have not been vaccinated.
YWN published a story two weeks ago about a measles outbreak in New York, with 6 residents of Williamsburg and multiple residents of Rockland County confirmed to have the disease.
The Viznitz Monsey Girls School announced that any child who is not immunized, can’t return to school for 21 days. No “religious exemption” is accepted. A religious exemption does not work when there is a measles outbreak.
Three weeks ago, YWN reported about the Menahel of Breslov Mosdos in Tzefas having been infected with the measles. He was listed in critical condition at the time of the news story.
Last week, YWN published an article where MK (Yisrael Beitenu) Yulia Malinovsky on Monday, during a session of the Knesset Health Committee, blasted the chareidi public of intensifying the spread of measles in Israel because so many of the community refuse to vaccinate.
Measles is highly contagious, so anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk of getting the disease.
People who are unvaccinated risk getting infected with measles and spreading it to others, and they may spread measles to people who cannot get vaccinated because they are too young or have specific health conditions.
Individuals are considered protected or immune to measles if:
• they were born before 1957
• have received two doses of measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine
• have had measles confirmed by a health care provider
• or have a lab test confirming immunity
Symptoms include a fever, rash, cough, conjunctivitis or runny nose, and they could appear 10 to 12 days after exposure.
The virus can remain in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
To prevent the spread of illness, health officials are advising individuals who may have been exposed and who have symptoms consistent with measles to contact their health care provider, a local clinic, or a local emergency department before going for care.
(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)
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One Response
vaccinate – why are the rabbinic authorities who issue a kol koreh when their opinion is not as critical, so reticent to upset some of their holy members when it is a matter of pikuach nefesh??