New York: Bill de Blasio declares an emergency in parts of Brooklyn over measles

In the past six months, 285 cases of measles have occurred in New York. That doesn’t sound like much, but in all of 2017 there were only two cases. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has now declared a state of emergency for parts of the Brooklyn neighborhood. Everyone who lives there must now be vaccinated against measles. Otherwise fines of up to 1000 dollars (about 890 euros) threaten.

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Measles outbreaks have recently occurred in several US regions. The authorities blame the resistance of those who oppose the vaccination. Rockland County, New York State, declared a state of emergency at the end of March. The disease was actually declared eradicated there in 2000. Despite large vaccination campaigns, almost every third person in the region between the ages of one and 18 is not vaccinated, the authorities estimate.

One of the most contagious diseases ever

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently made avoiding or delaying vaccinations one of ten major health threats worldwide. This puts her on a list with Ebola, antibiotic resistance and air pollution.

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A measles infection weakens the immune system immensely, so other infections are common. One dreaded consequence is encephalitis, measles encephalitis, which can be fatal or cause permanent damage. As a long-term consequence of a measles infection, so-called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), an inflammation of the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, can develop. It leads to brain failure and ultimately death.

Germany: Discussion about compulsory vaccination

In Germany, too, there is increasing discussion about compulsory measles vaccination. Federal Minister of Health Jens Spahn supports compulsory measles vaccinations for children in daycare centers and schools. It is an encroachment on freedom, but the awareness campaigns in recent years have not had the desired effect.

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According to the Robert Koch Institute, a total of 236 people had been infected with measles in Germany by mid-March. Measles is one of the most contagious of all. If an infected person comes into contact with a person who is not protected by a vaccination or previous illness, there is a 95 percent probability that they will fall ill.

Actually, in consultation with the WHO, Germany had set itself the goal of eradicating measles by 2015. To do this, at least 95 percent of people would have to be vaccinated twice against the pathogen. Of the children who started school in Germany in 2016, 97.1 percent had received the first vaccination. However, only 92.9 percent could show the second injection.

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