BROOKLYN, N.Y. - The city Health Department has put Yeshivas in Borough Park and Williamsburg on notice. They are banned from allowing students who have not been vaccinated for measles into their schools. 

Some residents agree it’s a necessary precaution given the rapid speed of the disease.

"Yes it’s very important to the community," said one Borough Park resident.

"The schools are very very careful now. They’re being more strict and they’re really doing a good job protecting the children who haven’t had it yet," said Borough Park resident Carol Isaacs.

But the numbers are climbing. What started as one case in September from someone who traveled unvaccinated to Israel, got infected, and returned has jumped to 214 cases in Brooklyn. Carrol Isaacs says her grandson got infected two weeks ago.

"It’s not easy. It’s a lot of rash. A lot of fever. A lot of throwing up. It’s not easy. Maybe he needed a booster shot which he never got," Isaacs said. 

Health experts say two doses of the measles vaccine are required for protection.

"Measles is the most contagious infection that we know. Every child needs to receive their first MMR measles mumps rubella vaccine at 12 months of age they need that second dose before they start attending kindergarten," said Dr. Jane R. Zucker, Assistant Commissioner at NYC Department of Health Bureau of Immunization.

Gothamist has reported that an information hotline used by mothers in the ultra-Orthodox community has been spreading anti-vaccination propaganda. Moshe Benjamin says all three of his children are vaccinated but many in the Orthodox community are hesitant.

"There’s people that think that there are links to autism and different types of developmental challenges for children that may be caused by the vaccinations," said Borough Park resident Moshe Benjamin.

Experts say there is no link between the vaccine and autism.

The epidemic is now the city's largest measles outbreak since the vaccine was introduced in the 1960’s. The Brooklyn cases are concentrated Williamsburg, which has a large community of Hasidic Jews.

There was another case of measles confirmed during the past week in Borough Park which brings the total number of known cases In that neighborhood to 47.

Pediatrician David Fernandes says this health scare is getting Brooklynites to the doctor.

"I’ve had some people who were initially very anti-vaccine who have come around and started to take the vaccine," said Dr. David Fernandes.

While the health department confirms vaccinations have doubled since this time last year, it says the problem is far from over.