By DEVI SHASTRI, AP Well being Author
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A baby who was not vaccinated has died from measles in West Texas, the primary demise in an outbreak that started late final month and the primary from measles within the U.S. since 2015.
The demise was a “school-aged child who was not vaccinated” and had been hospitalized final week, the Texas Division of State Well being Providers stated Wednesday in a press release. Lubbock well being officers additionally confirmed the demise, however neither company supplied extra particulars. Covenant Kids’s Hospital in Lubbock didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention confirmed that is the primary measles demise within the nation since 2015.
The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 124 circumstances throughout 9 counties, which state well being officers have stated is Texas’ largest in practically 30 years. There are additionally 9 circumstances in japanese New Mexico.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stated that the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers is “watching” the outbreak, which he described as “not unusual” throughout a Wednesday assembly of President Donald Trump’s cupboard members. The well being secretary didn’t present specifics on how or if the federal company is helping on the bottom.
“The loss of a child is a tragedy,” and Gov. Greg Abbott and his spouse are praying for “the family, loved ones and the entire Lubbock community,” Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris stated. He added that the governor’s workplace is in “regular communication” with the state well being division, that epidemiologists and vaccination groups are within the “affected area,” and that there are “daily situation updates and coordination calls” with native well being officers.
“The state will deploy all necessary resources to ensure the safety and health of Texans,” Mahaleris stated.
Vaccination charges throughout the U.S. have declined nationwide because the COVID-19 pandemic and most states are under the 95% vaccination threshold for kindergartners — the extent wanted to guard communities in opposition to measles outbreaks. Measles circumstances had been the worst in nearly three many years 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 essentially spreading within the Mennonite neighborhood in West Texas, the place small cities are separated by huge stretches of oil rig-dotted open land however related on account of individuals touring between cities for work, church, grocery buying and different errands.
Texas well being division information reveals the overwhelming majority of circumstances within the space are amongst individuals youthful than 18. The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine — which is secure and extremely efficient at stopping an infection and extreme circumstances — is really helpful 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 teenagers earlier than getting into kindergarten in public faculties nationwide.
The circumstances in West Texas have been concentrated in a “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite neighborhood, state well being division spokesperson Lara Anton has stated, particularly amongst households who attend small personal spiritual faculties or are homeschooled. Gaines County, which has 80 circumstances, has one of many highest charges in Texas of school-aged kids who choose out of a minimum of one required vaccine, with practically 14% of Okay-12 kids within the 2023-24 college 12 months.
Earlier this month, Kennedy stated 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 inclined will get the virus if uncovered, in accordance with the U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. Most youngsters will get better from the measles in the event that they get it, however an infection can result in harmful problems like pneumonia, blindness, mind swelling and demise.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management is offering “technical assistance, laboratory support and vaccines as needed” to West Texas, the company informed the AP, however the state well being division is taking the lead within the outbreak investigation.
A information convention is scheduled in Lubbock on Wednesday afternoon.
AP writers Jim Vertuno, JoNel Aleccia and Amanda Seitz contributed to this report.
The Related Press Well being and Science Division receives assist from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Academic Media Group and the Robert Wooden Johnson Basis. The AP is solely chargeable for all content material.
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