One person dead as Texas sees worst measles outbreak in 3 decades

(NewsNation) — The fig of measles cases crossed the United States is connected the rise, and astatine slightest 1 idiosyncratic with the illness has died successful Texas.

In Texas alone, the outbreak has grown to 124 cases crossed 9 antithetic counties. The Texas Department of State Health Services said 18 of those patients person been hospitalized. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that 1 idiosyncratic who had been hospitalized died successful West Texas. Their property wasn't instantly made clear.

Five of those who person contracted measles were vaccinated, and the remainder either were not vaccinated oregon their presumption was unknown, according to the department.

Texas wellness officials are saying this is the worst outbreak the authorities has seen successful 3 decades.

The microorganism has besides been reported successful Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is providing method assistance, laboratory enactment and vaccines arsenic needed, the bureau said.

What is measles?

Measles is an airborne illness caused by a microorganism that spreads erstwhile an infected idiosyncratic breathes, coughs oregon sneezes. It is highly contagious and tin origin superior wellness complications, particularly successful children younger than 5 years old, the CDC says.

Symptoms see precocious fever, cough, runny nose, red, watery eyes oregon a rash.

Populations with precocious vaccination rates, supra 95%, person herd immunity, meaning the illness is harder to spread, 1 pediatrician told NewsNation.

"I don't deliberation determination is simply a large interest that it's going to beryllium a pandemic similar we saw successful coronavirus," said Dr. Joel "Gator" Warsh. "Most radical are vaccinated oregon had measles, truthful the likelihood of it spreading successful that mode is beauteous small. We've had galore smaller-ish outbreaks successful the past 10 oregon 20, years, and they mostly don't get huge."

Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has not publically spoken astir the existent measles outbreak. Kennedy has been branded a vaccine skeptic, and his positions person sparked concern, peculiarly owed to a increasing vaccine hesitancy successful the U.S. pursuing the COVID-19 pandemic. Kennedy's supporters, however, accidental his positions lone further the speech astir doing much semipermanent probe connected vaccines.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.