The largest measles outbreak in a decade continues to spread across Texas and New Mexico, with a total of 228 cases reported as of Friday. Texas has confirmed 198 cases, a sharp increase from earlier in the week, while New Mexico has reported 30 cases, tripling overnight.
The outbreak, which began in late January in West Texas, has led to the first measles-related deaths in the United States in nearly a decade. Texas health officials confirmed that an unvaccinated school-aged child with no underlying conditions succumbed to the disease. Meanwhile, in New Mexico, an unvaccinated adult who recently died tested positive for measles, though the exact cause of death remains under investigation.
Measles: A Preventable but Deadly Disease
Measles is one of the most contagious airborne diseases, capable of spreading through respiratory droplets. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a distinctive red rash. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who contract measles will require hospitalization, and 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 children infected may die from complications.
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Despite the availability of a highly effective vaccine, the outbreak has underscored persistent gaps in immunization. In Texas, 80 of the 198 cases have been confirmed in unvaccinated individuals, and another 113 cases involve people with unknown vaccination status. Gaines County, the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, has one of the state’s highest rates of vaccine exemptions among school-aged children.
Calls for Vaccination and Emergency Response
The CDC has emphasized the importance of the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine as the best tool for preventing infection and curbing the outbreak. One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% effective, while two doses provide 97% protection.
In response to the outbreak, health officials in Texas and New Mexico have ramped up vaccination efforts. Texas expanded its vaccination guidelines in six counties, urging infants aged 6 to 11 months to receive an early dose and for older children and adults without immunity to get vaccinated immediately. New Mexico, which has seen a significant spike in vaccinations, has made the MMR vaccine available free of charge.
A CDC team has arrived in Texas to assist with case investigations and containment strategies. New Mexico, while working closely with the CDC, has not yet requested additional personnel.
Federal Health Leadership Under Scrutiny
The outbreak has also drawn attention to U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine skeptic. In a recent cabinet meeting, Kennedy downplayed the severity of the crisis, initially dismissing the school-aged child’s death as part of routine outbreaks. Later, in an opinion piece for Fox News, he acknowledged the role of vaccination but maintained that getting vaccinated should be a personal choice.
Kennedy has also promoted the use of vitamin A as a supplementary treatment, arguing that improved nutrition and sanitation played a significant role in reducing measles mortality before vaccines were introduced. However, public health experts have been quick to push back. While vitamin A has been used to mitigate severe symptoms in malnourished children, it does not prevent infection or transmission.
Medical professionals across the country have reiterated that vaccination remains the only reliable means of protection. “While vitamin A may support treatment in severe cases, it does not stop the spread of measles or provide long-term protection,” said Dr. Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, director of health for St. Louis. “Only vaccination can do that.”
A Growing Concern for Public Health
Health experts believe that the actual number of measles cases in the affected states is likely higher than reported. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital, warned that the outbreak’s rapid growth suggests cases are being vastly undercounted. He urged the CDC to conduct more aggressive case-hunting to assess the full scale of the crisis.
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With the spring and summer travel season approaching, the CDC has issued a health advisory urging healthcare providers to be vigilant for measles symptoms, especially in people returning from international travel. The agency has also reiterated that all U.S. residents born after 1957 should ensure they are fully vaccinated.