Texas child dies of measles as fear increases by explosion spread

Update, February 26: This article, originally published February 25, has been updated with the news of the first death in the Texas measles explosion.

The first death associated with a continuous explosion of measles at West Texas was reported by the State Health Services Department in Texas on Wednesday. The person was a school -age child who was not vaccinated, according to a statement issued by officials. No further information was given.

The explosion has reached 124 cases, according to data released on Tuesday. This is an increase of 66 cases Since Tuesday LastAnd officials warn that the explosion will continue to spread in the country and can spread more widely.

Indeed, public health officials on Monday issued an alarm for people in Texas south-central. A resident of Gaine district recently diagnosed with measles visited by Texas State University, UT San Antonio and several other public locations in San Marcos and San Antonio between February 14 and February 16th. Travel and may have exhibited other individuals in the virus. People who may have been exposed should monitor their conditions, especially if they are not vaccinated.

There have been 80 cases reported in Gaines and 21 on Terry County. Additional cases have been reported in Dallam, Dawson, Ecttor, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin and Yoakum. Thirty nine of the cases were in children under the age of 5, while 62 cases were in people between the ages of 5 and 17 years. People who were not vaccinated or whose vaccine status is an unknown account for 119 cases. New Mexico public health officials reported nine cases in that state, all within the Lea district. Although the Lea District limits the Gaines District, it has not yet been shown that both explosions are connected.

The measles vaccine, administered as part of the rubella vaccine of measles, is Very safe and very effective. Indeed, public health officials announced in 2000 that widespread vaccination ended the steady broadcast of measles in the United States. Now only sporadic outbursts occur.

However, the vaccine does not provide 100% protection. Studies have shown that it is about 97% effective, but what does it really mean? Basically, people who are vaccinated are 97% less likely than people who are not vaccinated to get measles, assuming that people in both groups are similarly exposed. Let’s look at it in another way. If 100 people in an unprecedented group develop measles, then only three people in a vaccinated group should develop measles. And vaccinated patients tend to have softer symptoms and are less likely to transmit the virus to others.

Of course, numerous factors, including the basic health of an individual, the age of a person or the extension of exposure all can affect the outcome in a specific person. But the general trend holds: this vaccine is extremely effective.

However, there is a risk for vaccinated people. For example, about 5% of patients on a Great 2018 spread to New York City were vaccinated. And although most cases in Texas have occurred in non -vaccinated people, five cases have been reported in vaccinated individuals.

Increasingly, vaccine deniers are using a “personal choice” framework to argue against vaccine requirements. When asked about vaccines in 2024, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.Now the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services stated that, “People can make individual assessments if that product will be good for them.” It’s not simple. A person’s decision to give up a safe and effective vaccine can affect numerous people in tragic ways, including very young babies to be vaccinated or those who are immunocompromised.

Reduce vaccination levels adversely affects us all.