A county in New York City's northern suburbs has declared a state of emergency over a measles outbreak that has infected more than 150 people since September.
Under the declaration, which lasts for at least 30 days, anyone under 18 who is not vaccinated against measles is barred from public gathering places, including shopping centres, civic centres, schools, restaurants and houses of worship.
"It's an attention grab, there's no question about it," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said at a news conference, noting that he did not believe such a drastic step has ever been tried in the US before.
Mr Day said he was taking the action in hopes of reversing a recent rise in cases amid disturbing reports that health workers were encountering resistance when investigating cases.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day Source: The Journal News
Those in violation of the declaration could be charged with a misdemeanour punishable by up to six months in jail.
But Mr Day acknowledged that there will be no concerted enforcement effort and that the intent is not to arrest people but to emphasise the seriousness of the situation.
The county is experiencing New York state's longest measles outbreak since the disease was declared officially eliminated from the United States in 2000.
The outbreak began in the Rockland area when seven unvaccinated travellers diagnosed with measles entered the county last October.
There have been 153 cases to date, Mr Day said. In the early days of the outbreak, people were cooperating with health officials and getting children vaccinated, he said, but that has changed.
Tuesday, March 26, 2019, in Spring Valley, N.Y. Rockland County Source: AP
"Our health inspectors have been hung up on and told not to call again. They've been told, 'We're not discussing this, do not come back', when visiting the homes of infected individuals as part of their investigations," Mr Day said.
"This type of response is unacceptable and frankly irresponsible."
