Texas state wellness officials have reported the destruction of a child from measles , the first death in an on-going two - res publica eruption of the disease and the first in the US since 2015 .
The child was hospitalize in Covenant Children ’s Hospital in Lubbock last week and test positive for morbilli , the Texas Department of State Health Services ( DSHS ) order in astatement . It also confirm that the child , who was school - aged , was not vaccinated .
“ This is a heavy muckle , ” said Dr Amy Thompson , a pediatrician and chief executive officer of Covenant Health , at apress conferenceon Wednesday . “ We have known that we have measles in our community , and we are now seeing a very serious moment . ”
morbilli is ahighly contagiousinfectious disease due to the morbilli virus , and while symptom typically let in a eminent fever , coughing , and rash , it can lead to more serious complications , such as intumescence of the brain and pneumonia .
baby and young children are particularly at risk of exposure of developing serious ramification , with nearly one to three of every 1,000 tike with morbilli die out from them .
Thompson confirmed that as of Wednesday , more than 20 patient role had been admitted to the Covenant Children ’s Hospital , “ several of those who have required intensive concern as a issue of take the measles . ”
“ As you could see from today ’s word , this virus can have severe and deadly outcome . ”
The shaver ’s destruction marks the first destruction from measles in the USsince 2015 , and in an on-going outbreak that has seen type report in both Texas and New Mexico , with numbers of those involve continuing to grow .
to begin with this week , wereportedthat there had been 99 shell of measles across both land . As of February 25 , that number has grown to 133 , according to reports from theTexas DSHSand theNew Mexico Department of Health .
morbilli is , however , a preventable disease ; theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC ) recommend that the secure way to protect against it is with the measles , epidemic parotitis , and rubella ( MMR ) vaccine . Around one in five citizenry in the US who get measles and aren’tvaccinatedend up in infirmary .
A 22 - year energy by US wellness functionary to ensure far-flung vaccination antecedently result to theeradication of the diseasein the state in 2000 . yet , it has since yield to the US in multiple outbreak , with theCDCattributing this to sheath convey in from abroad , and sack of people in US community that have n’t been immunise .
The content of this article is not mean to be a substitute for professional aesculapian advice , diagnosing , or treatment . Always search the advice of dependent health providers with questions you may have regarding medical weather condition .
