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Measles Outbreak in Texas Leads to Two Fatalities
A serious outbreak of measles in Texas has resulted in the deaths of two individuals, as confirmed by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. This marks the first measles-related fatalities in the United States in almost ten years.
According to the Texas health department, one of the deceased was an unvaccinated child who succumbed to the illness while receiving treatment in a Texas hospital.
Secretary Kennedy, addressing members of President Donald Trump’s cabinet during a meeting, did not provide further details on the second victim, and the specifics remain unverified by external sources.
As of Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported a total of 124 diagnosed measles cases since the outbreak began earlier this year, a significant rise from 90 cases reported just days earlier. The vast majority of these cases, numbering 101, involve children aged 17 and younger.
The US had been declared free of endemic measles transmission in 2000; however, recent years have witnessed resurgences linked to increasing vaccine hesitancy. The last recorded measles death in the country occurred in 2015, as noted by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Currently, the outbreak is concentrated in northwestern Texas, with additional cases reported in New Mexico and other states including Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City, and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
New Mexico has documented nine measles cases, four of which involve children.
Kennedy, who has previously expressed skepticism toward vaccines, noted the recurring nature of measles outbreaks, highlighting four occurrences in the US this year alone. The CDC classifies an outbreak as three or more related cases.
The health impacts of a measles infection can be severe, particularly for young children and pregnant women. Complications include pneumonia, neurological disorders, hearing loss, and even death. Survivors face a risk of a rare but serious condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a degenerative brain disease.
Last year, there were 285 reported measles cases in the US, the highest tally since 2019’s 1,274 cases.
During the ongoing outbreak, 18 individuals have required hospitalization. Secretary Kennedy remarked that a total of 20 patients are currently in the hospital for quarantine purposes. It is noteworthy that five infected individuals in Texas had received vaccinations.
In response to the outbreak, members of New Mexico’s congressional delegation have urged Kennedy to take immediate action by initiating a vaccination promotion campaign and reinstating recently terminated federal health workers.
The lawmakers, including the state’s Senators and House members, emphasized the detrimental effects of recent personnel cuts at the CDC on public health efforts, highlighting the potential consequences as the nation faces a public health crisis.
Communities affected by the outbreak are organizing free vaccination clinics to combat the spread of the disease. Lubbock, where the child victim passed away, is hosting daily clinics this week to encourage vaccination.
Reports suggest that the outbreak may have originated from a rural Mennonite community in Texas experiencing low vaccination rates.
To prevent measles, children in the US typically receive two doses of the vaccine, which are 97% effective, according to the CDC. However, Texas has a vaccination rate of 94.3%, falling short of the 95% threshold deemed necessary for herd immunity by the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The American Academy of Pediatrics has warned that measles was largely uncommon in the United States, but recent outbreaks are occurring in regions with declining vaccination rates. Most children contracting measles are either not fully vaccinated or are too young to receive the vaccine.
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