By RICK MILLER
Olean Star
OLEAN — As the number of measles cases continue to rise in Texas — including one death — Cattaraugus County reports a 74% vaccination rate for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR).
The county’s 74% vaccination rate is the lowest in Western New York. It has a higher rate than seven other counties including the lowest, Yates County, with a 55.8% rate.
The reasons, Cattaraugus County Public Health Director Dr. Kevin D. Watkins reminded members of the Board of Health include the large number of Amish families in the county. The Amish cite religious beliefs as their reason for not vaccinating their children.
There are slightly smaller Amish populations in both neighboring Allegany and Chautauqua counties.
Only 18 of the county’s 40 Zip Codes are represented in the latest state Health Department report on county vaccination rates from Jan. 1, 2024.
The graph ranges from a high 94.7% rate of vaccination in Irving on the Cattaraugus Territory to a low of 13.3% In Conewango Valley, where a majority of the county’s Amish reside, about 2,450, according to the 2020 census. Another 390 Amish residents live in the Little Valley and Delevan-Machias-Farmersville area.
The Olean Zip Code shows a 85.7% vaccination rate and Salamanca with a 90.2% rate.
The following vaccination rates by Zip Codes are from the state Health Department, but include only 18 of the 40 Zip Code areas. The rest were labeled not available.
14009 – Arcade – 93.2%
14042 – Delevan – 86.8%
14070 – Gowanda – 83.3%
14081 – Irving – 94.7%
14129 – Perrysburg – 82.4%
14138 – South Dayton – 58.3%
14141 – Springville – 92.5%
14706 – Allegany – 86.8%
14719 – Cattaraugus – 47.7%
14726 – Conewango Valley -13.3%
14727 – Cuba – 80.4%
14737 – Franklinville – 71.8%
14738 – Frewsburg – 79.3%
14755 – Little Valley – 74.3%
14760 – Olean – 85.7%
14770 – Portville – 76.7%
14772 – Randolph – 70.9%
14779 – Salamanca – 90.2%
Measles, Watkins said, is one of the most
contagious diseases, with up to 90 percent of unimmunized persons exposed to measles will get the disease.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 164 cases in the U.S. this year as of Feb. 27. There are nine states with confirmed measles cases, including New York City, which has recently reported two cases. They are:
Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexica, New York City, Rhode Island and Texas.
“Most of these cases are amongst children or adolescents who have not received a measles vaccine,” Watkins said. Of the Texas cases, 80 people — about half — were unvaccinated for measles. The vaccination status of 74 more people is unknown.
There have been no measles cases reported in Cattaraugus County this year, Watkins said.
Last year at this time there had been 41 cases of measles in the U.S., Watkins said.
Fifteen years ago, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. Not long afterward, the spread started. The outbreaks have been cyclical. The total number of measles cases reported in the U.S. last year was 285.
“We don’t know much about this (Texas) death,” Watkins said.
The MMR vaccination is given in two doses. One is given at age one and the second at age two. Watkins said the first dose is believed to be 93% effective and two doses is 97% effective at preventing serious measles symptoms, hospitalization or death.
Symptoms can include pneumonia, brain swelling or encephalitis, which is believed to be the cause of death of the Texas child, Watkins explained.
The symptoms — including a fever, coughing and the tell-tale red rash that starts on the face — can appear in about 10 days after exposure. The measles virus can be transmitted through the air or by touching the surface where droplets from an infected person have settled.
It is one of the most contagious diseases,” Watkins said.
Local health officials struggle to increase vaccination rates outside the Amish communities, but face resistance from some individuals who link vaccines to debunked claims.
Watkins said one an area’s measles vaccination rate hits the 95% range, herd immunity is reached.
The measles vaccine was developed in the early 1960s at a time when millions of children were getting measles every year with infant deaths between 400 and 500.
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All Rights Reserved. Star News LLC. Eric M. Firkel.
