Apr 9, 2019

NYC declares public health emergency over measles outbreak

An MMR vaccination against measles, mumps, and rubella is prepared. Photo by: BSIP/UIG via Getty Images

New York City declared a public health emergency on Tuesday over the current measles outbreak and ordered mandatory vaccinations for everyone exposed to the virus, adding that the city will issue violations and possibly fines for those who do not comply, the New York Times reports.

The big picture: This year's measles outbreak is the 2nd largest since 2000. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have reported outbreaks in New York City, Washington state, Texas, Illinois and California. Rockland County in New York declared a local state of emergency at the end of March, while Tuesday's public health emergency follows an ongoing measles outbreak in the Williamsburg Orthodox Jewish community in Brooklyn.

"This is the epicenter of a measles outbreak that is very, very troubling and must be dealt with immediately. ... The measles vaccine works. It is safe, it is effective, it is time-tested."
— NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio at a news conference in Williamsburg, Brooklyn

Go deeper: Measles cases will "certainly" surpass 2018 due to lack of vaccinations

Go deeper

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Global: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 a.m. ET: 5,618,829 — Total deaths: 351,146 — Total recoveries — 2,311,404 — Map.
  2. U.S.: Total confirmed cases as of 10:30 a.m. ET: 1,681,793 — Total deaths: 98,933 — Total recoveries: 384,902 — Total tested: 14,907,041 — Map.
  3. Public health: Fauci says data is “really quite evident” against hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus — Nearly half of Americans say someone in their household has delayed medical care.
  4. Tech: Zipline drones deliver masks to hospitals; vaccines could be next
  5. Business: The downsides of remote work could diminish recent gains — PPP failed to get money to industries and areas most in need.
  6. 🏒Sports: NHL unveils 24-team playoff plan to return from hiatus.
  7. What should I do? When you can be around others after contracting the coronavirus — Traveling, asthma, dishes, disinfectants and being contagious — Masks, lending books and self-isolating — Exercise, laundry, what counts as soap — Pets, moving and personal health — Answers about the virus from Axios experts — What to know about social distancing — How to minimize your risk.
  8. Other resources: CDC on how to avoid the virus, what to do if you get it, the right mask to wear.

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Updated 33 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Fauci: Data is “really quite evident” against hydroxychloroquine for coronavirus

Anthony Fauci told CNN Wednesday that the scientific data "is really quite evident now about the lack of efficacy" of hydroxychloroquine as a coronavirus treatment.

Driving the news: The comments came in response to news that France on Wednesday banned the use of hydroxychloroquine to treat the virus, after a large retrospective study in The Lancet found an increased risk of heart problems and death among coronavirus patients who took the anti-malarial drug.

Go deeper (1 min. read)Arrow39 mins ago - Health

Trump has turned Big Tech's speech rules into a political football

Illustration: Lazaro Gamio/Axios

Twitter made headlines Tuesday after labeling two election-related tweets from President Trump as potentially misleading — the company’s first action against the president’s tweets, which often test its policies on misinformation and abuse.

The big picture: Twitter's unprecedented move, which swiftly drew Trump's fury, was just one of four controversies over the last 24 hours involving tech platforms grappling with free speech issues. And all of them, Axios' Sara Fischer and I report, reflect what a partisan issue the policing of social media content has become.

Go deeper (2 min. read)Arrow1 hour ago - Technology