Dear BJL Editor,

You recently published a letter, about the recent measles outbreak in Detroit. That letter, written by a friend of mine, was an attempt to encourage widespread vaccination. It was not meant to be published as written. Please allow me to clarify what was sent in the middle of the night by someone still experiencing the effects of the virus.

1. A meshulach from Israel unknowingly contracted the virus while in NY. He spread the virus throughout the Detroit Jewish Community while going from Shul to Shul.

2. The first wave of people to get sick included many who thought they were properly vaccinated. These were people born between 1957 and 1985 who received only a single MMR vaccination.

3. Immediately, the Oakland County Health Department, Detroit Hatzolah, all three Orthodox day schools and the local Vaad came together for community wide vaccinations. In just 7 days, nearly 2,000 people were vaccinated. Protocol states that unless one has documented proof of two MMR vaccines, they must be re-vaccinated or have their titers (level of immunity) checked. The Vaad posted a letter noting that one is halachicly obligated to get vaccinated. The schools issued notifications that anyone without proper vaccinations, staff included, may not enter the building. No exceptions.

4. Unfortunately, measles often presents as the common cold; however, it is highly contagious, remaining airborne for 2 hours in any area the infected person has visited. Symptoms include runny nose, sore throat, dry cough and fever. The red spots do not appear for four or five days after one is contagious. As such, there is now a second wave of people.

5. In response to those who feel that 34 (possibly 35) cases is not cause for alarm, I offer the following: Although an outbreak is defined as three cases not in the same household, had there not been WIDESPREAD vaccination, the number of cases in our community would be in the hundreds. The proof of this is simple: two people in anti-vax families contracted measles. Shortly thereafter the virus spread to others within their families. Those who tested positive within families who vaccinate, again, largely due to the incorrect assumption that they were properly vaccinated, remained isolated, and the rest of the family did not get sick. (My friend’s letter erroneously noted that his wife and child, who were vaccinated, got the virus. They later received laboratory confirmation that they were negative for measles.)

6. This is not about anti-vaxxers. Again, most people who contracted the virus thought they were immune. And yes, there have been two cases of people who received two MMRs and still contracted the virus. Although unusual, it is possible; the vaccine is only about 97% effective. However, receiving two MMRs significantly reduces the chance of getting measles. Unfortunately, they were among that 3%.

7. Measles in not the Chicken Pox! Measles is very scary and can lead to numerous complications including pneumonia, blindness, deafness, heart disease, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and death. There have been two cases that are quite serious and, in my friend's case, several weeks later, he still suffers from terrible vision problems and weakness.

8. Lastly, the Orthodox Community is particularly at risk due to frequent travel and Shul attendance. If anyone is experiencing these symptoms they must remain quarantined until they have negative confirmation or are no longer contagious.

What needs to happen:

Purim was a catalyst for the second wave. One of our local tzadikim who runs around town reading Megila for those in need tested positive. Pesach is fast approaching and unless something happens, there could, chas v’shalom, be thousands of cases in dozens of Jewish Communities all over the world. Other Jewish communities must learn from Detroit. In only seven days we ensured that pretty much the entire community was vaccinated, either by providing proof or getting an additional MMR. The Rabbonim and Askonim must band together and encourage EVERYONE to ensure that they are properly vaccinated. If we do this before Pesach, we might be able to stop the spread of this terrible disease.


Thank You! 


Noah Klein

Detroit, MI