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Texas measles outbreak claims first life Texas measles outbreak claims first life
(32 minutes later)
Testing for measles in Seminole, TexasTesting for measles in Seminole, Texas
A rapidly spreading outbreak of measles in Texas has taken its first victim, an unvaccinated child, according to the state's health department.
The child, who was in a Lubbock hospital for about a week, is believed to be the first person in the US in nearly a decade to die from the highly contagious disease.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported on Tuesday that it was aware of 124 cases diagnosed since the outbreak began in early January, up from 90 cases on Friday. Almost all cases - 101 - were in patients 17 and younger.
The US declared measles "eliminated" in 2000, but the country has seen outbreaks in recent years amid a rise in anti-vaccine sentiment.
The last US measles death was in 2015, according to the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
The current outbreak is centred in north-western Texas, with measles also recently found across the state's border in New Mexico, as well as Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).The current outbreak is centred in north-western Texas, with measles also recently found across the state's border in New Mexico, as well as Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
Speaking at the first cabinet meeting of the current Trump administration, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy, Jr, a past vaccine sceptic, said that measles outbreaks are common and there have been four measles outbreaks so far in the US this year.
The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more related cases.
There were 285 cases of measles reported in the US for all of last year, the highest number since 1,274 in 2019.
So far, 18 people in the current outbreak have had to go to hospital, according to the Texas health department. Five people who were infected had been vaccinated, it also said.
The Texas outbreak is believed to have started in a rural Mennonite community with low vaccination rates, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner, and local media.
Most US children receive two immunization shots to protect against the illness, which together are 97% effective in protecting against measles, according to the CDC.Most US children receive two immunization shots to protect against the illness, which together are 97% effective in protecting against measles, according to the CDC.
Vaccination rates in Texas are 94.3%, according to the CDC, which is below the 95% level that the Infectious Diseases Society of America says is needed to also protect those who are not immunized, commonly called "herd immunity".Vaccination rates in Texas are 94.3%, according to the CDC, which is below the 95% level that the Infectious Diseases Society of America says is needed to also protect those who are not immunized, commonly called "herd immunity".
According to the society, the last US measles death was in 2015.
A measles infection can have particularly devastating complications for pregnant women and young children, including pneumonia, neurological impairment, hearing loss and death.A measles infection can have particularly devastating complications for pregnant women and young children, including pneumonia, neurological impairment, hearing loss and death.
Survivors are at risk of developing a degenerative brain and nervous system disease known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).Survivors are at risk of developing a degenerative brain and nervous system disease known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE).