A school-aged child in Texas has died from measles, marking the first fatality from the virus in the state in over a decade. The unvaccinated child had been hospitalized in Lubbock last week and later tested positive for the disease, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
The death is linked to an ongoing outbreak in western Texas, which has now infected at least 124 people. Nearly all confirmed cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. So far, 18 people have been hospitalized due to complications from the virus.
The outbreak originated in Gaines County, which has reported 80 cases and has since spread to surrounding areas, including across state lines into New Mexico. Nine cases have been confirmed in Lea County, New Mexico, four involving children.
Children and teenagers between the ages of 5 and 17 account for most infections, followed by children under 4 years old. Health officials continue to urge vaccination as the most effective protection against the highly contagious disease, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
With measles capable of spreading to 90% of unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus, experts warn that additional cases are likely in the coming weeks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is 97% effective in preventing infection.
The Texas outbreak is among the largest in the U.S. in recent years, raising concerns over declining vaccination rates.
Source: ABC News