By Robert Herriman @bactiman63
As of June 17, 2019, there have been 596 confirmed measles cases in New York City since September.
An enormous toll is being placed on the public health structure, as measles outbreaks do. I looked at other cases in this post–The cost of not getting vaccinated: The numbers can really add up!
So what has been the cost of measles in NYC?
According to testimony given by Commissioner, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Oxiris Barbot, MD to the New York City Council Committees on Finance, Health, and Mental Health, Addiction, and Disabilities on the FY 2020 Executive Budget one month ago:
The Department’s primary focus since the Preliminary Budget Hearing has been to address the ongoing measles outbreak. The Department’s response has been nothing short of epic, with nearly 400 employees mobilized for this Public Health Emergency. To date, the Department has spent $2.3 million.
This includes redeployment of staff to the measles response, and more than $700,000 in overtime and purchases for vaccines, supplies, and outreach materials and services.
Just one more example, measles investigations and outbreak response if a time-consuming and very expensive endeavor.
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