In West Texas, a school-aged infant who had not been vaccinated has died from measles, marking the second measles-related death in the country since 2015. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the baby had been taken into care in Lubbock before going into hospice. Health officials in Lubbock confirmed the death, but they lacked more information.
According to ABC7, the pandemic in remote West Texas has grown to 124 confirmed cases across nine districts, making it the country’s largest measles outbreak in nearly 30 years. Additionally, nine cases have been reported in northeast New Mexico. Children between the ages of 5 and 17 are the most common victims. According to Texas Health Department information, the majority of cases have occurred in people under the age of 18, especially in an “undervaccinated” Moravian area where many children are homeschooled or attend little private religious schools.
According to CNN, all 18 of the hospitalized so far in the pandemic were unvaccinated. While Robert F Kennedy Jr., the US Health and Human Services minister, originally stated there had been two measles-related incidents, Texas health authorities confirmed that only one had occurred. Additionally, Kennedy claimed that illnesses were “primarily for quarantine,” but Dr. Lara Johnson, the chief medical officer of Covenant Health Lubbock Service Area, refuted that statement during a government meeting. ” We don’t hospitalize people for quarantine functions”, she said. In our hospital,” We admit patients who require serious friendly care.”
Measles, a highly contagious flying disorder, may cause serious complications, including asthma, mind swelling, blindness, and dying. According to the CDC,” Up to 9 out of 10 people who are vulnerable will get the virus if exposed”. Dr Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist with UTHealth Houston, stated,” These epidemics last between two to six weeks. That’s a long time. That’s a lot of children infected … death is unusual, but tragic when it happens”.
In the disturbed counties, vaccination rates are still low. ABC7 reported that nearly 14 % of school-aged babies in Gaines County, the center of the pandemic, have opted out of at least one required vaccination. CNN highlighted that nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in Gaines County did not receive the measles-mumps-rubella ( MMR ) vaccine in the 2023-24 school year. In Lubbock, completely vaccination clinics have been established, but so far only about 70 quantities have been given.
Experts caution that the pandemic is likely to continue. ” I very rarely say I’m 100 % sure of something, but I am 100 % sure we will see an increase in cases”, said Troisi. Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, noted that circumstances may be undercounted and expressed concern about potential more disperse at future public occasions. He said,” It will continue as long as the virus continues to find unvaccinated children.”
The CDC is providing technical support, laboratory assistance, and vaccinations as needed, but Texas health officials are leading the pandemic response.
