Health officials have confirmed two new measles cases in New York City, sparking renewed warnings for parents.
Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine said the cases were found in the Lower East Side and SoHo. The city’s health department is contacting anyone who may have been exposed and urging testing. “This should remind all parents to make sure their kids are vaccinated,” Levine wrote.
New York City has one of the nation’s highest measles vaccination rates, with 98% of kindergarteners fully immunized. But Levine warned there are still “pockets of resistance,” particularly in some religious communities.
The cases come as the U.S. faces its biggest measles outbreak since 1992, with 1,454 infections across 42 states this year. Three people, including two children, have died.
Measles spreads easily through the air, and unvaccinated people have a 90% risk of infection after exposure.
Are vaccination rates enough to keep New Yorkers safe, or could more cases be coming?
