Countywide : Measles Prompts State of Emergency

Seeking state funds to combat a measles epidemic, Orange County’s public health officer on Monday declared that the county was in a state of emergency because of the disease.

“The current epidemic, which shows no abatement, has put a terrific strain on our immunizations resources,” Dr. L. Rex Ehling said.

So far this year, Orange County officials have recorded 204 measles cases and two deaths, health officials said. Statewide, measles has afflicted 1,800 people this year, killing 24.

The county’s formal declaration of a health “emergency” came in response to a March announcement by the state Department of Health Services that counties experiencing a measles epidemic could apply for state aid. State officials required a formal declaration of a health “emergency” to be eligible for a grant.

Orange County is seeking $150,000 to extend immunization clinic hours, remind doctors of ways to prevent the disease and broadcast the need for vaccinations in Latino neighborhoods. Many of Orange County’s cases, including both deaths, have involved unimmunized Latino preschoolers.

Late Monday, however, a mix-up between state and county officials on the grant deadline appeared to jeopardize Orange County’s application.

Ehling contended Monday that state officials “swore on a stack of Bibles” that their initial April 9 application deadline had been extended to April 30. The County Board of Supervisors is scheduled to confirm the health “emergency” designation at its April 24 meeting, and Ehling was planning to send the formal application after that.

But Dr. Loring Dales, chief of the state health services’ immunization branch, said county applications had to be postmarked Monday and were due in Sacramento no later than Wednesday.

“We said, ‘Have them in the mail by the 16th. And we’ll make the final cut (recommendations for funds) on the 18th,’ ” Dales said. He noted that so far, 13 counties had applied for a total $1.5 million, while only $1.2 million is available.

Applications will be judged on the number of measles cases as well as the quality of their programs, Dales said. So even if Orange County’s application comes in on time, he suggested that it will compete for funds with such counties as Los Angeles, with more than 500 measles cases a month this year, or San Bernardino County, with 150 to 200 measles cases a month.

“I’m not sure why they (Orange County officials) waited so long,” Dales said. “They may miss (the deadline). We’ll call them to try to see if they can’t fax something to us. But the other counties are clamoring for the money; they’re desperate to get the money.”

Meanwhile, Don R. Roth, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said he believes that the board will quickly confirm the “emergency” declaration--either as an urgent, off-agenda item today ) or on next week’s agenda.

Though county officials admitted that in many ways the declaration of “emergency” was a technical procedure done to seek state funds, they also said it was an accurate description of the problem.