A minor became the first deadly victim of a measles outbreak in Texason USAwhere more than 130 people have been infected, health authorities reported Wednesday.
“The school age who was not vaccinated was hospitalized in Lubbock (Northwest of Texas) last week and gave positive for measles”, He said Health Department state in a press release.
Since the beginning of the year, 124 cases of measles in western Texas and 9 in the neighboring state of New Mexico which has increased concern for the resurgence of this highly contagious disease in the midst of a decrease in vaccination rates.
Most cases occur in children. Eighteen of them have been hospitalized in Texas. “Although the multiple outbreaks of measles in USA They have not caused any death, it was only a matter of time that one occurred ”infectious disease specialist told AFP Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins University.
“He measles Keep killing More than 100,000 people every year worldwide. Death should serve as a reminder that there was a reason why the vaccine was developed and that the vaccine es valuable for people. These deaths are almost totally avoidable“He added.
The epicenter of outbreak es the county of Gaines home to an important Mennonite population, a Christian sect with a history of reticence to vaccines. The law of Texas It allows vaccine exemptions for reasons of consciousness, including religious beliefs.
He outbreak coincides with the beginning of the mandate of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Secretary of Health in the Administration of Donald Trump, a position that influences the country’s immunization policy.
Kennedya declared skeptic of vaccines, has been questioned for linking the vaccine against the Measles, papers and rubella (MMR) with autisman affirmation that has been completely discredited by the scientific research
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Highly transmissible
He measles es An extremely contagious respiratory virus that is transmitted through respiratory droplets or when an infected person breathes, cough or sneezes. It represents a serious risk for those who are not vaccinated.
During the outbreaks, approximately one in five infected people require hospitalization and one in 20 develops pneumonia. In rare cases, the disease causes inflammation of the brain and can be mortal.
He measles It also increases the risk of complications during pregnancy, including premature birth and low birth weight. In 2023, USA notified 285 cases of measles according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
He outbreak Recent larger occurred in 2019, when 1,274 cases, mainly within the Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey, marked the highest national total in decades.
Before the vaccine against the measles In 1963, it is estimated that between three and four million Americans contracted the disease and several hundred died annually.
Although the measles was declared eliminated in USA In 2000, sprouts continue to be produced every year. TO worldwide the virus remains one of the main causes of Avoidable deaths.