A deadly and fast-spreading measles outbreak has hit the US, with nearly 900 cases reported as of Friday’s data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The majority of cases come from Texas, where 646 have been confirmed since late January. In total, 94 people have been hospitalized due to measles.
The outbreak has now spread to 29 states, including Kansas, Michigan, New Mexico, Ohio, and Texas, which have reported multiple outbreaks. Texas recently saw a rise of 22 cases, according to the state’s Department of State Health Services.
Three deaths have been reported since the outbreak began, with two being school-aged children in Texas who had not been vaccinated. The CDC notes that 97% of US measles cases came from unvaccinated or unknown vaccination status individuals.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism for spreading misleading claims about vaccinations before promoting the measles vaccine after attending a funeral. He now acknowledges the importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of measles.
Public health officials warn that additional cases are likely to occur due to the highly contagious nature of the disease. The Texas Department of State Health Services said, “Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities.”
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/measles-cases-us-texas-900_n_680d0467e4b04560cabe9300