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Monday, Apr 14, 2025
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Rising Measles Outbreak Claims Second Child's Life in Texas
Confirming the deaths amid a significant outbreak, health officials report nearly 500 infected in the state.
A second child with measles has died in Texas amidst a significant outbreak that has seen nearly 500 infections reported in the state alone.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the child's death, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
The child, an eight-year-old girl, had been hospitalized for complications related to measles and had not been vaccinated against the disease.
The first death attributed to measles during this outbreak involved a six-year-old girl who was also unvaccinated and hospitalized in Lubbock.
As reports indicate, both immediate families opted against vaccination for their children, which is considered the primary preventive measure against measles.
In a related development, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration's health secretary, is expected to attend the funeral for the second child.
His stance on vaccines, which has sparked concern among health officials, includes expressing support for non-vaccine remedies, thereby contributing to a narrative questioning vaccine safety.
The outbreak has not been limited to Texas.
In early March, health officials in New Mexico reported a death of an unvaccinated individual in Lea County, although measles was not confirmed as the cause.
The highly infectious nature of measles, which spreads through airborne droplets, has led to renewed vigilance among health professionals as the outbreak escalates.
Dr. Peter Marks, who recently resigned as the FDA's director for vaccines, attributed the increased mortality to misinformation regarding vaccines, urging that vaccination is essential for preventing further deaths.
He expressed concern in an interview regarding potential future deaths linked to measles if the governmental response is not intensified.
Measles had been declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has re-emerged prominently in communities with low vaccination rates.
Texas and New Mexico are among five states experiencing active outbreaks, defined by three or more cases, along with Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
As of the most recent reports, the U.S. has recorded more than 600 cases of measles this year, significantly exceeding the total from the entirety of 2022.
In Texas, 481 cases have been reported across 19 counties, with the majority located in the western region.
Notably, Gaines County, home to a sizable undervaccinated Mennonite community, has reported 315 cases, translating to more than 1% of its population.
The county has also seen an increase in hospitalization, with a total of 56 individuals admitted since the outbreak began, including 14 new cases over a recent three-day period.
Health authorities indicate that the measles outbreak may persist for several months, with some experts projecting its duration could extend up to a year.
As the vaccination discourse intensifies, many officials emphasize the crucial need for public education on the benefits of immunization against measles and other preventable diseases.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services confirmed the child's death, although the exact cause is still under investigation.
The child, an eight-year-old girl, had been hospitalized for complications related to measles and had not been vaccinated against the disease.
The first death attributed to measles during this outbreak involved a six-year-old girl who was also unvaccinated and hospitalized in Lubbock.
As reports indicate, both immediate families opted against vaccination for their children, which is considered the primary preventive measure against measles.
In a related development, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Trump administration's health secretary, is expected to attend the funeral for the second child.
His stance on vaccines, which has sparked concern among health officials, includes expressing support for non-vaccine remedies, thereby contributing to a narrative questioning vaccine safety.
The outbreak has not been limited to Texas.
In early March, health officials in New Mexico reported a death of an unvaccinated individual in Lea County, although measles was not confirmed as the cause.
The highly infectious nature of measles, which spreads through airborne droplets, has led to renewed vigilance among health professionals as the outbreak escalates.
Dr. Peter Marks, who recently resigned as the FDA's director for vaccines, attributed the increased mortality to misinformation regarding vaccines, urging that vaccination is essential for preventing further deaths.
He expressed concern in an interview regarding potential future deaths linked to measles if the governmental response is not intensified.
Measles had been declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 but has re-emerged prominently in communities with low vaccination rates.
Texas and New Mexico are among five states experiencing active outbreaks, defined by three or more cases, along with Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma.
As of the most recent reports, the U.S. has recorded more than 600 cases of measles this year, significantly exceeding the total from the entirety of 2022.
In Texas, 481 cases have been reported across 19 counties, with the majority located in the western region.
Notably, Gaines County, home to a sizable undervaccinated Mennonite community, has reported 315 cases, translating to more than 1% of its population.
The county has also seen an increase in hospitalization, with a total of 56 individuals admitted since the outbreak began, including 14 new cases over a recent three-day period.
Health authorities indicate that the measles outbreak may persist for several months, with some experts projecting its duration could extend up to a year.
As the vaccination discourse intensifies, many officials emphasize the crucial need for public education on the benefits of immunization against measles and other preventable diseases.
