Hib Outbreak Amish

About Hib Outbreak Amish

A Haemophilus influenzae type b Hib cluster in Minnesota in 2008 sickened 5 children, several of whom had not been vaccinated, and killed one unvaccinated child. In 2014 a large measles outbreak spread among Amish communities in Ohio, where vaccination rates were low. Similar outbreaks have occurred in other under vaccinated communities, including Orthodox Jewish communities in New York. These outbreaks demonstrate that vaccine preventable diseases can rapidly spread in pockets of susceptibility even when national coverage is high. The CDC monitors these communities closely. Low vaccination rates in specific communities rather than general populations drive most vaccine preventable disease outbreaks in developed countries. Addressing these pockets requires culturally appropriate outreach and building trust with community leaders.