New cases of measles have been reported since the first death in western Texas in the middle of the current epidemic.
The pediatric patient, who lived in the county of Gaines, died Tuesday in Lubbock, Texas, according to a statement from health officials.
The child would have been “elderly to school” and not vaccinated, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Identity and sex have not been disclosed.
First death of measles reported in western Texas in the middle of the growth epidemic
In total, 124 cases of measles have been confirmed in the epidemic of western Texas since the end of January (February 25).
New cases of measles have been reported since the first death in western Texas in the middle of the current epidemic. (istock)
Most cases are in children and a total of 18 people have been hospitalized, the DSHS reported in a press release.
Cases of measles have also been reported in other states.
The measles epidemic continues to worsen among children in this American state
The New Mexico Ministry of Health (NMDOH) reported an epidemic of the very contagious virus in the county of Lea, near the county of Gaines, Texas.
A total of nine cases were confirmed in the county on February 25, according to the NMDOH website.
Four of them are between 5 and 17 years old and five are adults.
Most cases involved patients who have not been vaccinated, reports. (istock)
The New Jersey Ministry of Health (NJDOH) also reported three total cases of measles.
The first was reported on February 14 with an unaccompanied person, according to a press release.
Is the MMR vaccine sure for children? Dr. Nicole Saphier responds to concerns as cases of measles increase
The infected person would have recently traveled internationally and would have visited the emergency department of Englewood hospital in the county of Bergen on February 9.
The two additional cases affected people who had close contact with the first person, according to local reports.
‘Faudly contagious’
Fox News’ principal medical analyst, Dr. Marc Siegel, weighed on the death of First Beneaders on Wednesday, citing non-compliance with vaccination as the probable reason that the disease is spreading by Texas and now in New Mexico.
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Siegel suggested that high exemption rates infant vaccineswhich are now less than 85% compliance, are to be blamed. The majority of cases have occurred in non -vaccinated individuals, mainly children of school age.
“Keep in mind that for the immunity of the herd (where those who cannot be vaccinated because they are pregnant or immunocompromised and cannot take a live vaccine are protected), we need a vaccination rate of around 95%,” he told Fox News Digital.
“In Texas, it is currently 91%, and other bills for other exemptions are before the state legislature.”
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The doctor pointed out that measles is “madly contagious in unvaccinated individuals” and that the hospitalization rate is one in five, according to CDC data.
As Pneumonia can occur In one in 20 out of 20 case, Siegel said it could explain the recent death of measles.
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“Of the 124 patients so far, there are 18 hospitalizations, probably most of the pneumonia,” he shared. “There are probably hundreds of other cases that are not reported.”
