LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A baby who was not vaccinated has died from measles in West Texas, the primary loss of life in an outbreak that started late final month and the primary from measles within the U.S. since 2015.
The loss of life was a “school-aged child who was not vaccinated” and had been hospitalized final week, the Texas Division of State Well being Companies mentioned Wednesday in an announcement.
Covenant Youngsters’s Hospital in Lubbock didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark, nor did Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s workplace. Texas Tech College Well being Sciences Middle spokesperson Melissa Whitfield first confirmed the loss of life, which occurred in a single day, to The Related Press on Wednesday morning.
The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 124 circumstances throughout 9 counties, which state well being officers have mentioned is Texas’ largest in practically 30 years. There are additionally 9 circumstances in jap New Mexico.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed that is the primary measles loss of life within the nation since 2015. Measles circumstances have been the worst in virtually three a long time in 2019, and there was an increase in circumstances in 2024, together with an outbreak in Chicago that sickened greater than 60.
The outbreak is basically spreading within the Mennonite neighborhood in West Texas, the place small cities are separated by huge stretches of oil rig-dotted open land however linked resulting from folks touring between cities for work, church, grocery buying and different errands.
Texas well being division knowledge exhibits the overwhelming majority of circumstances within the space are amongst folks youthful than 18. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — which is secure and extremely efficient at stopping an infection and extreme circumstances — is really useful for youngsters between 12 and 15 months previous for the primary shot, with the second coming between 4 and 6 years previous.
The vaccine collection is required for youths earlier than getting into kindergarten in public colleges nationwide. However the measles circumstances in West Texas have been concentrated in a “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite neighborhood, state well being division spokesperson Lara Anton has mentioned, particularly amongst households who attend small non-public non secular colleges or are homeschooled.
Gaines County, which has 80 circumstances, has one of many highest charges in Texas of school-aged youngsters who decide out of a minimum of one required vaccine, with practically 14% of Ok-12 youngsters within the 2023-24 college 12 months.
Earlier this month, new federal well being secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned a panel would examine the childhood vaccine schedule that forestalls measles and different harmful illnesses.
Measles is a respiratory virus that may survive within the air for as much as two hours. As much as 9 out of 10 people who find themselves vulnerable will get the virus if uncovered, in line with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Most children will recuperate from the measles in the event that they get it, however an infection can result in harmful problems like pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and loss of life.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management is offering “technical assistance, laboratory support and vaccines as needed” to West Texas, the company advised the AP, however the state well being division is taking the lead within the outbreak investigation.