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.