ALLEGANY, N.Y. — As the number of measles cases continues to increase nationwide, Cattaraugus County health officials on Wednesday expressed concern for the county’s largest unvaccinated population — the Amish.
The number of cases in the U.S. nearly doubled in the past month, to 539 cases — 31 of which are in New York state, said Dr. Kevin Watkins, county Public Health director. No measles cases have been reported in Cattaraugus County, he told members of the Board of Health meeting at the St. Bonaventure Clubhouse.
Watkins said he and other health officials are seeking to speak with the bishops in the Amish community to talk about ways to get the vulnerable Amish population vaccinated.
One reason for heightened concern is the measles outbreak in the Ohio Amish community, where many Western New York Amish families visited last weekend, Watkins said. “We are concerned they might bring back the measles virus if unvaccinated,” he said.
Cattaraugus County health officials are consulting with their counterparts in Chautauqua and Allegany counties, which also have significant Amish populations, he said.
One Board of Health member, Georgina Paul, a nurse practitioner who provides health services to some Amish residents, said the Amish shun vaccinations because of their belief that “whatever happens to you is God’s will. I have tried to talk to them about vaccinations. It’s very difficult. It doesn’t go anywhere.”
Another Board of Health member, Dr. Zahid Chohan, said often when a member of the Amish order comes to his office, “It is so late in the game.”
Paul replied, “They don’t seek help in this area. If they have cancer, they go to Mexico.”
Watkins said, “The bishops will make the decision” on any type of vaccination. The least we can do is introduce ourselves. We want to be available to give the vaccine if asked.”
Watkins said he is working with a doctor who sees many Amish patients in the Conewango area of western Cattaraugus County to get a list of the bishops to speak with about the measles vaccinations.
Watkins said as more people — not just the Amish — forsake immunizations on religious, philosophical and personal reasons — the greater the risk of a measles outbreak here. About 85 percent of Amish are unvaccinated, while the rest of Cattaraugus County’s vaccination rate is above 95 percent.
“It’s highly contagious,” he said. “It’s a very serious disease and can be fatal.” Symptoms include a temperature between 103 and 105 and a red rash that starts on the face and upper neck and works it way down the body. It also can lead to pneumonia and encephalitis.
Meanwhile, Watkins said the Health Department’s mosquito surveillance program is in its sixth week of trapping and identifying adult mosquitoes capable of carrying West Nile virus, eastern equine encephalitis and Jamestown canyon disease. The specimens identified as possible disease carriers are sent to Albany to see if they carry the disease.
Watkins said they are not seeing the numbers of larvae in mosquito breeding pools that would justify spraying a larvicide over mosquitoes breeding areas.
However, he said some areas of the town of Great Valley and the Kill Buck area do have large numbers of adult mosquitoes, but there are no plans to spray adulticide at this time. Municipalities are able to hire a contractor to spray insecticide in these areas, or there are services available to individual homeowners, Watkins said.
The best thing homeowners can do is eliminate water sources around their homes where mosquitoes can breed — anything from cleaning out the gutters, to removing containers of water, both large and small. They also can breed in the water atop a swimming pool cover.
Residents should plan to wear light-colored clothing with long sleeves and pants, wear a insect repellant containing DEET and remove receptacles where mosquitoes can breed. Water in birdbaths should be changed frequently.
