Concerns raised by the New York City Health Commissioner in April of this year have now escalated to where federal, state, and city health departments are issuing public health alerts to address the growing threat to community health as a result of the influx of migrants crossing the southern border.
In Chicago the Department of Public Health (CDPH) Commissioner, Dr. Simbo Ige, expressed deep concern about the rise in chickenpox (varicella) cases, particularly within the past four weeks. The majority of these cases, a staggering 81%, were reported in individuals newly arrived from the U.S. southern border and living in shelters.
90% of the cases involved individuals who had not received the chickenpox vaccine. Since January 1, Chicago has reported nearly 400 cases of chickenpox, a stark increase from the median of 53 cases reported annually from 2005 to 2022. In response, the CDPH has instructed public schools to ensure incoming students are vaccinated and mandated the reporting of all confirmed chickenpox cases within 24 hours.
In Illinois, the Department of Public Health (IDPH) has taken action against the alarming rise in congenital syphilis cases, nearly tripling since 2021.
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued an alert about an increase in monkeypox cases reported statewide. Californians are being encouraged to familiarize themselves with the signs and symptoms of monkeypox and take preventive measures, including vaccination, to protect against severe illness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also issued a nationwide alert, highlighting the geographic spread of monkeypox in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and advising clinicians to report cases with relevant symptoms and recent travel to the affected region to their state health departments.
The Center Square reports:
According to the CDC, refugees and asylum seekers are not required to comply with vaccination requirements before coming to the U.S. However, they must comply when they apply to become Lawful Permanent Residents. The agency “strongly recommends” vaccines for refugees and asylum seekers “to protect against vaccine-preventable diseases, avoid delays in movement, and because school-aged children may be required to meet school-entry vaccination requirements upon school enrollment in the United States.” It also published a recommended, not mandatory, vaccination program for them, including an immunization schedule.
