A group of parents in Brooklyn are suing the New York City health department for ordering mandatory measles vaccinations in parts of the borough earlier this month amid a growing outbreak of the highly contagious virus. The mandate, which affects four ZIP codes in the Williamsburg area largely inhabited by an Orthodox Jewish community, is a violation of public health law, according to the lawsuit, filed Monday in Kings County Supreme Court. As of Monday, there were at least 267 confirmed measles cases in Williamsburg since September ― 39 of which were reported in the past week. New York health officials say Jewish yeshivas and day care centers are of particular concern. In their lawsuit, the parents argue the city’s response to the measles outbreak has been “irrational” and that it doesn’t pose a clear danger to public health.

Source: Huffington Post April 17, 2019 16:41 UTC