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A measles outbreak has hit one Brooklyn community and may be spreading, health officials say.
There have been 21 cases of measles reported in Borough Park and one case in Williamsburg this year, according to the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Those infected are between 10 months and 32 years old, DNAinfo.com reports.
The first case was imported from London, according to the health department. Measles is a highly contagious disease and can be deadly. Symptoms include rash, fever, cough, runny nose and sore throat.
The disease can be prevented with a vaccine. The new outbreak may have spread between families who refused vaccinations, according to DNAinfo.com.
This is the fourth time since 2008 that a measles outbreak has hit the ultra-Orthodox community in Borough Park, DNAinfo.com also reported.
All of those who were infected this year have recovered, but officials say there may be more cases because of the large number of people exposed to the disease in the community.
