20 March 28 • 2019
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ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A

vi Cohen, 23, of Oak Park has 
the measles, confirmed Monday 
evening. He is among the 10 
additional cases confirmed after March 
22, bringing the total to 18 at press time, 
according to the Oakland County Health 
Division (OCHD). 
He’
s also one of the three of 100 peo-
ple who get the required two doses of 
measles vaccine who will still get measles 
if exposed to the virus, according to the 
Centers for Disease Control. Avi received 
both his MMR shots on schedule when 
he was a child. He gave the JN his vacci-
nation records as proof. 
Avi and his wife, Debbie, first became 
concerned when they realized their son, 
Reuven, 2, had been in a synagogue with 
his grandfather the same time as some-
one wth the measles. And Reuven had 
been running a fever that week although 
he was diagnosed with an ear infection 
and began a round of antibiotics. 
Avi and Debbie were extra cautious 
after his exposure, so they had Reuven 
swabbed for measles and split their fam-
ily last week for Shabbat, each taking a 
child to their respective parents’
 home. 
By March 18, however, Avi had devel-
oped a cough and fever and felt pro-
gressively worse. Meanwhile, Reuven’
s 
measles test came back negative. 
“
Avi had both his immunizations so 
they weren’
t even so worried about him 
getting the measles. They believed he 
was immune,
” said his mother, Ita Leah 

Cohen of Birmingham. “We were just 
worried about my grandsons, especially 
the new baby [5-week-old Uriel].
” 
On March 20, Debbie took Reuven 
back to the doctor, and he was diagnosed 
with a double ear infection.
On Purim day, Avi woke in so much 
pain he couldn’
t even open his eyes. 
Debbie rushed him to the Emergency 
Room at Beaumont Royal Oak. If they 
had suspected the measles, they would 
have avoided going anywhere, she says. 
They told doctors Avi had been exposed 
to measles, but he was fully vaccinated. 
The Beaumont doctors did not sus-
pect measles either. They checked Avi’
s 
medical records, saw he’
d been immu-
nized appropriately, yet did a swab test 
anyway. They also did lung and chest 
X-rays, found nothing and said he must 
have “an upper-respiratory virus,
” Debbie 
says. They sent him home. 
On March 22, Reuven’
s fever reap-
peared so Debbie took him to the doctor. 
As she was leaving, Avi called and told 
her he’
d broken out with a suspicious 
rash over his entire body. In a panic, 
Debbie told the doctor, who advised her 
to contact OCHD immediately. 
On Saturday, March 23, OCHD 
came to their house, swabbed the entire 
family and gave out extra vaccinations 
to extended family members. Debbie, 
Avi and Reuven were all up to date on 
their immunizations. They also gave 
Uriel immune-globulin (Ig) to boost his 

immune system because he is too young 
to get a live vaccine. Uriel moved to 
Debbie’
s parent’
s home temporarily while 
she cared for Avi and Reuven at home. 
In the meantime, the entire family 
and extended family (who had been in 
contact with Avi and Reuven) tested 
negative. Avi, however, was quarantined 
until Wednesday. Debbie has no symp-
toms, but she remained home, too, just 
in case. “I see my husband is in so much 
pain, and I don’
t want to pass that on to 
anybody.
”
Avi teaches at Farber Hebrew Day 
School, where Reuven also attends, 
which is why Farber appeared on 
OCHD’
s official list of places that had 
possible measles exposure. Yet Avi was 
not in school while contagious, accord-
ing to an email sent by Head of School 
Rabbi Scot Berman. 

CAUTION AND NO BLAME
It is likely most people at ground zero — 
the Orthodox communities in Oak Park 
and Southfield — have been exposed 
because of the widespread locations 
OCHD cited as possible exposure spots. 
An update from the OCHD Monday 
listed more sites, including a few 
locations in West Bloomfield and 
Farmington Hills. (Go to oakgov.com/
health for updates). 
The OCHD says vaccination is 
effective within 72 hours of exposure. 
High-risk individuals can receive 
immune-globulin (Ig) treatment with-
in six days of exposure.
The measles are being traced to 
a visitor from Israel, by way of New 
York, who came to soliticit donations 
throughout the Orthodox community. 
He was diagnosed March 13. 
Ita Leah Cohen said Avi’
s case proves 
immunizations are not 100 percent 
effective all the time. So, she plans to 

keep her younger kids home from school 
until the outbreak is over, even though 
they’
re immunized. 
“People who have had only one dose 
of MMR (particularly those vaccinated 
from 1957-1985) need to verify if they 
received a second dose,
” said Phyllis 
Meer, RN, BSN, CPNP
. “If they don’
t 
have proof of two doses or a blood titer 
proving immunity, they must get another 
dose to boost their immunity.
”
Ita Leah went to get the booster shot 
offered free at Young Israel of Oak Park 
(YIOP) on March 22, but the OCHD 
had run out already. She arrived early 
Sunday morning at YIOP for a second 
clinic and found a long line had formed 
at 9:30, a half-hour before doors opened. 
From March 22-24, OCHD gave 970 
vaccinations.
She says everyone has been very kind 
and understanding. 
“Nobody’
s pointing fingers; blaming 
won’
t solve anything,
” she said. “We all 
have to be responsible, do what we can; 
but, ultimately, the rest is up to God.
”
Debbie says she received mixed reac-
tions. Mostly, people are offering support 
and bringing food. 
“People who know us know we’
re 
super careful when it comes to health 
issues,
” Debbie said. “No one has yelled, 
nothing like that, but I know they’
re ner-
vous and upset.
“No one’
s upset with me; they’
re just 
scared,
” she said. “Parents want to protect 
their families.
” 
Word has spread quickly and rumors 
are flying. Debbie was eager to set the 
record straight after being told about 
some of the stories going around. 
The OCHD has said everyone who 
can get immunized absolutely should, 
but there should also be awareness there 
is that tiny 3 out of 100 chance that even 
that won’
t be protection enough. ■

Unlikely Case

Immunized young father
comes down with measles.

jews d
in 
the

FAR LEFT: Avi 

Cohen with Uriel, 

5 weeks, and 

Reuven, 2. LEFT: 

Avi Cohen’
s 

immunization 

records. 

