Highest Number of Measles in Three Decades; Wildfire Forces Evacuation of Six Flags
BERMAN: The number of measles cases in the U.S. this year has now topped 1,000. That is the highest number in nearly three decades. New York state alone has seen more than 800 cases since October. CNN's senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen has much more on this outbreak. Elizabeth.</s>ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: John, this has been going on for so long that some are now wondering, should authorities try something different to get it under control?</s>COHEN (voice over): Anti-vaxers in New York, they've fueled the largest outbreak of measles in the United States in more than 20 years. Now, the state's response to this enormous outbreak coming under fire.</s>BRAD HOYLMAN (D), NEW YORK STATE SENATE: Our state's inaction in the face of such an overwhelming public health emergency is appalling.</s>COHEN: In New York, parents are allowed to send their unvaccinated children to school. In other states, like California, schoolchildren must be vaccinated. Also under fire, health authorities for not bringing in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The New York City health commissioner says it's not necessary.</s>DR. OXIRIS BARBOT, COMMISSIONER, NEW YORK CITY DEPT. OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE: I have more than 400 people working on this outbreak, and we are working hard, day and night, to make sure we bring this to an end.</s>COHEN: Another issue, an anti-vaccinate group circulated this booklet filled with lies to the state's ultra-orthodox Jewish community, which has now become the epicenter of the outbreak. The state health department countered with these posters in Yiddish, but badly botched the translation. Avi Greenstein runs the largest community center in Boro Park, Brooklyn.</s>AVI GREENSTEIN, CEO, BORO PARK JEWISH COMMUNITY COUNCIL: They've got to do this right. And they clearly were not doing it right.</s>COHEN: He says the botched ads are part of a larger problem.</s>GREENSTEIN: They have to reach out in a way that shows that they truly get how this community works, the uniqueness of this community.</s>COHEN (on camera): And have they done that?</s>GREENSTEIN: I think they could do a better job of that. I think it's clear, it's evident that they could do a better job on that.</s>COHEN (voice over): Now one group of Orthodox Jewish women are taking matters into their own hands, holding a first of its kind event aimed specifically at mothers.</s>COHEN (on camera): The women who organized this event, they're trying to do something different than what state officials have done. They've set up these stations because they know what moms in their community are worried about, do vaccines cause SIDS, do vaccines cause autism? The answer to both of these questions is no.</s>COHEN (voice over): The organizers hope it makes a difference.</s>COHEN (on camera): Could women, could moms be the key to ending this outbreak?</s>SHOSHANA BERNSTEIN, ORGANIZER, "AN EVENING OF VACCINATION EDUCATION FOR WOMEN": Yes. Yes, I think so.</s>COHEN: Why is that?</s>BERNSTEIN: Because women are passionate about their children. And if there's enough understanding, the correct decisions will be made.</s>COHEN (voice over): With dozens of new cases every week, they're decisions that need to be made soon.</s>COHEN: Now, perhaps a positive sign, the number of new cases in New York, both in the city and the state, went down from April to May. But, still, when I asked the New York City health commissioner if she thought this outbreak would be over by the fall, she didn't answer. Alisyn.</s>CAMEROTA: Fascinating, though, Elizabeth, to see your story and see how they are now trying to tackle the information and misinformation. Thank you very much. So wildfires are spreading across parts of California, forcing hundreds to evacuate a Six Flags amusement park in northern California. CNN's Dan Simon is in Rumsey, California, with more. What's happening there, Dan?</s>DAN SIMONS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, hi, Alisyn. As we all know, these fires are the new normal in California. We are covering the Sand Fire. This is the biggest wildfire to impact the state this year. And you can see some of the charred landscape behind me. At this point it's charred about 2,200 acres. But what was especially noteworthy is over the weekend PG&E cut off power to about 20,000 customers because the area was under a red flag warning, which signals fire danger. Obviously the utility is under tremendous pressure after its transmission lines were found to have caused the Camp Fire, which destroyed the town of Paradise this year. I think you can expect to see PG&E taking this action throughout the summer. Elsewhere in California, Alisyn, as you mentioned, you did have that dramatic fire in southern California impacting the Six Flags Amusement Park, a dramatic brush fire there, as all of the guests had to be evacuated. Crews seem to have that fire under control because the park will reopen this morning. In the meantime here, with the Sand Fire, containment about 20 percent at this point. The fire has destroyed about nine or so buildings, no residences, about 100 or so people evacuated and crews seem to be gaining the upper hand. John, we'll send it back to you.</s>BERMAN: All right, some good news there. Dan Simon for us. Thank you very much. Now here's what else to watch today.</s>ON SCREEN TEXT: 10: 00 a.m. ET, SCOTUS issues opinions. 10:25 a.m. ET, Warren Iowa plant tour. 2:00 p.m. ET, House Judiciary Mueller hearing.</s>CAMEROTA: OK, now to this. President Trump insists that the deal his administration struck with Mexico is a major victory. So what was actually accomplished? We'll have "The Bottom Line," next.