(Bloomberg) — A faculty-aged little one in Texas who was just lately recognized with measles has handed away amid a rising outbreak within the state.
The kid, who wasn’t vaccinated, had been hospitalized and was receiving therapy for issues from measles, in keeping with an emailed assertion from UMC Well being System in Lubbock, Texas. The kid had no identified underlying well being situations, the assertion mentioned.
“This unlucky occasion underscores the significance of vaccination,” hospital spokesperson Aaron Davis mentioned. “Measles is a extremely contagious illness that may result in critical issues, significantly for individuals who are unvaccinated.” Native well being officers had been nonetheless working to substantiate some particulars of the case on Sunday. Davis declined to touch upon when precisely the little one died.
It’s the second dying linked to measles within the state this yr, after the US went a decade with none reported deaths from the extremely contagious virus. Up to now this yr, there have been 607 measles instances reported throughout 21 states, in keeping with the newest knowledge from the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
Ninety-seven p.c of the instances concerned unvaccinated sufferers or these whose vaccination was unknown. The measles vaccine, often known as the MMR vaccine, may be very potent, with one dose 93% efficient at stopping an infection, in keeping with the CDC.
Texas has by far been the toughest hit state. The state well being division has reported 481 instances.
The US Division of Well being and Human Companies didn’t reply to requests for remark. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has brazenly questioned the security of vaccines and public well being consultants have mentioned he’s downplayed the significance of the MMR vaccine within the present measles outbreak.
Extra tales like this can be found on bloomberg.com
