A measles outbreak in Texas has reached a record-breaking level, with 146 confirmed cases reported as of Friday. A San Antonio school recently confirmed a student had German measles, also known as rubella. The highly contagious disease has spread rapidly in rural West Texas, particularly among unvaccinated communities.
The outbreak has resulted in the death of an unvaccinated child this week, marking the first U.S. death from the disease since 2015. Health officials say the virus has largely spread through a close-knit Mennonite community with high vaccination rates skipped.
Measles can cause severe complications such as pneumonia, blindness, and brain swelling. The vaccine is safe and highly effective in preventing infection. Texas health authorities are urging parents to ensure their children receive the recommended two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, typically administered at 12-15 months and 4-6 years old.
The outbreak highlights the importance of vaccination in preventing outbreaks and protecting public health.
Source: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/san-antonio-texas-school-confirms-case-of-rubella-german-measles-as-measles-rubeola-outbreak-in-state-reaches-146-vaccinations-child-death-centers-for-disease-control-and-prevention-contagious-infection