A measles outbreak in West Texas has claimed the life of a child, the first U.S. fatality from the disease in a decade. With more than 120 cases now reported across Texas and New Mexico, health experts are raising concerns about the spread of the disease amid declining vaccination rates.
A child in West Texas has died from measles, marking the first U.S. death from the disease in a decade. The unvaccinated 15-year-old teenager passed away overnight in the hospital. The outbreak has infected at least 124 people, mostly unvaccinated children, in rural West Texas, and as it spreads, local residents are growing concerned for their families.
Mary Vaca, a resident of El Paso, shared her worries, saying, “Yes, of course. Because I have grandchildren. And I certainly don't want them to catch the disease. So, I hope they don't. May God bless them.”
As health officials continue to respond to the growing outbreak, experts emphasize the importance of vaccination. Dr. Lara Johnson, Chief Medical Officer for Covenant Health Lubbock, explained, “We were confident that we'd eradicated measles from the United States and had really gotten to a point where we just didn't see these kinds of outbreaks happening. Obviously, that has changed over the last 20-something years. And so we do see outbreaks more frequently, but that is related to how much we're vaccinating our population. When we think about vaccine-preventable illnesses, they're only preventable if we have adequate vaccination rates. As we see those rates start to decline across the nation, we'll see more outbreaks.”
Symptoms of measles include a high fever, watery eyes, cough, and a rash that begins on the face. New Mexico has also reported nine new cases, and health officials warn that additional cases are likely due to the disease's highly contagious nature. While measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, recent outbreaks have been linked to vaccine hesitancy. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges parents to vaccinate their children, as declining vaccination rates have contributed to the spread of the disease in recent years.
South Korea's industry minister is set to visit Washington, D.C. this week for talks with U.S. officials on key issues, including tariffs and the nation's "sensitive country" status.
The U.S. government on Tuesday released documents related to a legal battle over Prince Harry’s 2020 visa application but redacted large portions, citing privacy protections and a lack of evidence that he received special treatment.
U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts has publicly rejected President Donald Trump’s demand to impeach a federal judge, delivering a rare rebuke that highlights growing tensions between the White House and the judiciary.
U.S. Commerce Department bureaus have reportedly issued a blanket ban on the Chinese AI model DeepSeek for use on government-furnished equipment, according to sources and a mass email seen by Reuters.
Chinese state media warned on Tuesday that the United States could suffer significant economic harm as other countries retaliate against its tariffs with “high tariffs” on American goods.
Anti-government protests erupted outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, with demonstrators calling for his resignation after his announcement to oust the head of internal security, joined by relatives of hostages worried about their loved ones' fate.
Afghanistan seeks foreign investment in mining, engaging with Chinese and Kazakh diplomats to boost resource extraction. With $1 trillion in untapped minerals, Kabul aims to become a key industry player despite infrastructure and security challenges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia launched attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine immediately after a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they had agreed to halt such attacks.
South Korea's industry minister is set to visit Washington, D.C. this week for talks with U.S. officials on key issues, including tariffs and the nation's "sensitive country" status.
China is offering subsidies and benefits to boost birthrates, but experts doubt their impact amid economic and societal challenges.
The inside of a Herculaneum delicate & ancient scroll, unseen for nearly 2,000 years, has been revealed using Artificial Intelligence.
Regarding the Armenia-Azerbaijan process, we cannot forget the years of occupation, and we will not forget them, President Ilham Aliyev said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the 12th Global Baku Forum.
President Donald Trump has vowed to respond to the European Union's counter-tariffs, escalating tensions over the U.S. steel and aluminum duties that have sparked a trade dispute between the two economic powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed on Tuesday to a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump that Russia and Ukraine cease attacking each other's energy infrastructure for 30 days, the Kremlin said following a lengthy phone discussion between the leaders.
AstraZeneca is acquiring Belgium-based EsoBiotec for $1 billion to expand its cell therapy capabilities, with the deal set to close in the second quarter.
Over a million displaced people in Myanmar are set to be affected by the World Food Programme’s cuts to food aid worldwide.
Measles cases in the European region surged to a 25-year high in 2024, more than doubling from the previous year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) and UNICEF reported on Thursday, urging immediate action to restore vaccination levels that declined after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cases in Europe are expected to rise in the coming months, the ECDC warned, citing seasonal trends and low vaccination rates. With over 32,000 cases reported in the past year—mostly in Romania—health officials stress the urgent need for higher immunization to prevent further outbreaks.
Anti-government protests erupted outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office, with demonstrators calling for his resignation after his announcement to oust the head of internal security, joined by relatives of hostages worried about their loved ones' fate.
Afghanistan seeks foreign investment in mining, engaging with Chinese and Kazakh diplomats to boost resource extraction. With $1 trillion in untapped minerals, Kabul aims to become a key industry player despite infrastructure and security challenges.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Russia launched attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine immediately after a conversation between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which they had agreed to halt such attacks.
South Korea's industry minister is set to visit Washington, D.C. this week for talks with U.S. officials on key issues, including tariffs and the nation's "sensitive country" status.
China is offering subsidies and benefits to boost birthrates, but experts doubt their impact amid economic and societal challenges.
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