Sen. Chuck Schumer on Monday pressed the federal government to move fast after two confirmed measles cases in Erie County and a total of 13 infections across New York signaled the virus is back in the state. In a letter to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Schumer urged the administration to rehire CDC infectious-disease staff, restore measles grants and renew surveillance programs as reported cases climb nationwide.
Schumer laid out his three-point plan in a June 15 release and a formal letter, according to Schumer. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports 2,073 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. as of last Thursday, a tally that has local health officials and lawmakers warning that New York will need federal backup from HHS.
Schumer's three-point push
In his correspondence, Schumer called for immediate rehiring of CDC infectious-disease experts, restoration of measles-related grants and more funding and staffing for programs that limit spread, including renewed contracts for surveillance work. "Firing vaccine experts, gutting public-health funding, and undermining vaccines isn’t reform. It’s reckless, radical, and rooted in conspiracy, not science," Schumer wrote in the release.
Local exposures and response in Buffalo
Erie County health officials confirmed a second local measles case this month and say the newly identified patient visited community sites in Buffalo during the infectious period, potentially exposing others. The county advised people who were at locations including 1021 Broadway and the Golisano Children’s Hospital emergency department earlier this month to watch for symptoms for 21 days and contact a provider if they become ill, according to the Erie County Department of Health.
Why public-health officials are alarmed
Public-health experts note that measles was officially declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, and officials say falling vaccine coverage and gaps in surveillance help explain why the virus has resurged. The CDC has pointed to declines in kindergarten MMR coverage and multiple outbreak clusters this year as reasons the agency and state health departments are urging rapid action to keep the virus from spreading further.
