Mumps and Measles Revisited

Do read the CDC report and that looks at the connections between England and the outbreak of mumps in North America, primary areas of New York and New Jersey and Quebec. In England the rates of vaccination are very low and there is a general outbreak there of 4000 in the general community.

The Science-Based medicine blog has some history regarding low vaccination rates in England and makes a prediction that these communicable diseases with spread. I hope this will not be the case.

Meanwhile, the Lower Hudson newspaper is reporting a large Mumps outbreak in Monsey in the Dec 19 edition. According to the article, non-immunizing parents interviewed by health official report they do not immunize because of religious beliefs. I have no idea what religious beliefs they are referring to. Dr. Yakov Tendler, a Monsey internist, is on record stating,
"There are a lot of crazies out there who are putting their children and everyone else at risk."

It is interesting to note that mumps patients are 83% male with a median age of 14. It appears that the separation of genders and the fact that bochurim from the communities most affected tend to reside in yeshiva dorms rather than home environments is containing the mumps somewhat to a certain segment of the population. Given the incubation period, I don't see a great way to stop the spread of the disease without serious steps. Rabbis in Doctors in affected communities are calling for vaccination, but it seems to me that to put a stop to the spread, more than a call for vaccination is needed.

Camp registrations open up very soon and the CDC reports that the mumps outbreak is attributable to a camper from the United Kingdom in a Sullivan County, NY camp. I'm not a doctor and would very much like to hear from any doctors who read my blog what steps should be taken to try and contain the spread of mumps (what a disaster it would be if this outbreak leaves the confines of the community). Summer for many means camps --sleepaway and day camps, weddings, and travel. My unscientific analysis would lead me to think that foreign campers should not be accepted into American camps and that any parent who does decide to send to camp should be asking serious questions of their doctors. I know I'm setting myself to be accused of having the middot of a Sodomite. But, it seems to me that where herd immunity is weak, welcoming in campers from a country experiencing an outbreak shouldn't be repeated. I hope that doctors in the communities affected are working on making sure this disease stays contained.

Doctors? Scientists? Commentors? Your thoughts?

Where Psuedo-Science Leads

Mumps and measles? Wasn't that a rhyme that some of us jumped roped to in the 70's an 80's?

Unfortunately mumps is alive and well and spreading through frum (mostly yeshiva) communities in the US, Canada, England, and Israel. The latest report has nearly thrown me over the edge. A 160 student yeshiva in Israel is reporting that 100 of the 160 students have been diagnosed with mumps. Scary and incredible all at the same time.

I recently spoke with a family member and doctor on the subject of risk and my own children as I recently found out that one of my close friends does not immunize. He felt that since there was still herd immunity I shouldn't worry too much about having certain non-immunized friends over, although I need to make sure that there is not contact after my own children have live immunizations as they shed the virus.

But as I continue to watch the stories coming in on YWN an VIN, I have to wonder if I have perhaps not provided enough information to this family member who isn't familiar with the sociological trends in the frum community. There are a number of families that do not immunize and families travel frequently.

I have to wonder if there is enough herd immunity in my own community, in the communities that we travel in, in the communities that our friends travel in (especially those who do not vaccinate), in our shul, and in local schools. I don't know this answer, but I am taking one of my kids for an annual and will certainly be asking questions. I wish I knew how many people in our shul and in our social circles don't vaccinate. I'm almost certain it isn't limited to a single friend and her children.

I might be mistaken, but I also don't believe this is a nation problem as a Google Search of Mumps Outbreak 2009 seems to turn up the same stories that are appearing on VIN and YWN. So it seems as though this problem is one of our own.

If anyone wants to open up the conversations as to why pseudo-science seems to be so popular in the frum community, feel free. If anyone has medical expertise and wants to offer advice and guidance on what questions parents should be asking and what actions they might want to take, feel free. I'm not a scientist, just a concerned parent who is concerned by the news. I'm not interested in rewinding the clock 100 years because of lack of trust in science and medicine.

These are serious diseases that really should remain the subject of jump rope rhymes.

(Sorry for a more emotional post. This is not my normal style).

They're Back

Mumps, that is, this time in the Talmudical Academy of Philadelphia (Hat Tip: VIN)

[11 months ago]

and the elimination of Priority 7 Vouchers.

Letters when out this week saying the program is on the cutting block. By all accounts, it looks like the Priority 7 vouchers are supporting more than after school programming in Brooklyn's Frum Schools, but providing a "voucher" of sorts.