The Ministry of Health is sponsoring a wide-scale
immunization drive among children in Jerusalem's chareidi
neighborhoods following an outbreak of measles among children
who did not receive measles shots.
So far 13 cases have been reported, primarily among one- to
nine-year old children in Ramot Polin, Sanhedria and Maalot
Dafna, as well as a rare case of a 20-year-old woman who was
never immunized. The children who contracted the disease have
recuperated.
According to Dr. Chen Zamir, the physician in charge of the
Jerusalem area, at the end of last week an immunization drive
was announced and a Tipat Chalav station was opened despite
the general strike. With the assistance of Ezer Mitzion the
public was called upon to immunize children who have yet to
receive their shots. As a result two thousand children were
immunized to date. According to unconfirmed speculation the
original carrier was a sick infant who arrived from abroad
and infected other children.
The measles shot is normally administered twice: the basic
immunization at the age of one year and a booster shot in
first grade. Measles is caused by a virus and is normally
manifested by rash, fever, runny nose, coughing and an eye
infection. In most cases patients recover, but the disease
can lead to complications such as ear infection, pneumonia
and occasionally encephalitis.
