A child in West Texas has died of measles, marking the first reported U.S. death from the highly contagious disease in a decade, as a measles outbreak in Texas has now surpassed 130 confirmed cases across two states.
According to the Texas Health Department, the unvaccinated child died overnight in a children’s hospital in Lubbock, where healthcare providers have been overwhelmed by the sudden surge in cases. “We have had so many kids coming in, and obviously we were not prepared, probably, so early in what we are seeing to have a death,” said Amy Thompson, CEO of Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, during a press briefing.
The outbreak, which began in early February in West Texas, has predominantly affected children and teenagers, with health officials reporting that 124 cases have been confirmed in the region - with all but five patients unvaccinated. An additional nine cases were recently reported in eastern New Mexico near the Texas border, raising concerns about the spread of the virus.
Symptoms observed in patients include high fever, red watery eyes, nasal congestion, cough, and a rash that typically begins on the face. Treatment at Lubbock hospital has involved supplemental oxygen, high-flow oxygen therapy, fever-reducing medications, and IV fluids.
During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr initially stated that two people had died in the outbreak; however, his Department of Health and Human Services later clarified that only one death had been confirmed. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the U.S. death rate for measles is typically 1 to 3 deaths per 1,000 reported cases - the last U.S. measles fatality having occurred in 2015.
With 18 patients currently hospitalized, state health officials warn that additional cases are likely as the virus, known for its rapid transmission, continues to spread. New Mexico’s health department has issued a caution that further infections are expected in the coming weeks.
As public health officials ramp up efforts to contain the outbreak, local authorities in Lubbock and surrounding regions have intensified vaccination campaigns, promoting the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine at free clinics and through public service announcements. The outbreak has renewed calls for higher vaccination rates amid growing concerns that pockets of under-vaccinated communities could pave the way for further resurgences of the disease.
U.S. airstrikes in Yemen have intensified under the Trump administration, with National Security Adviser Mike Waltz claiming that American forces have eliminated key Houthi leadership, including their top missile commander.
Soldiers from the Philippine Army and the U.S. Army began three weeks of joint military drills on Monday, focused on territorial defense and large-scale force deployments, the Philippine Army announced.
Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on United States-China Relations (NCUSCR), stated that China and the United States should cooperate in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) to avoid duplicating efforts.
The Trump administration is expected to exclude sector-specific tariffs from its planned reciprocal levies, which are set to be imposed on April 2, according to reports by Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous officials.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a brief call on Sunday to discuss progress on a new economic deal between the two countries, the prime minister's spokesperson said.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
A severe cyberattack disabled Ukraine’s online railway ticketing system on Monday, causing extensive queues and disruptions, with Kyiv officials attributing the incident to a possible Russian attempt to destabilise the nation.
In a groundbreaking study published in Cell on January 18, Chinese researchers have unveiled a novel cancer treatment that ingeniously disguises tumors as pig tissue, triggering the body’s immune system to mount a hyperacute rejection response against the cancer cells.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stated on Thursday that purchasing U.S. weapons does not pose a security risk for his country, but emphasized the need for Europe to reduce its reliance on American defense systems. His comments come amid growing discussions within Europe.
NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams completed an unexpectedly long 286-day mission on the ISS, returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX capsule after delays caused by technical issues with Boeing’s Starliner.
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.
Mexican forces have dismantled a massive meth lab in Zacatecas, dealing a blow to a Sinaloa Cartel faction.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
A severe cyberattack disabled Ukraine’s online railway ticketing system on Monday, causing extensive queues and disruptions, with Kyiv officials attributing the incident to a possible Russian attempt to destabilise the nation.
The European Union views the Palestinian Authority as "best placed to govern Gaza," according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, following her meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa in Ramallah.
U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that he is prepared to take a more flexible stance on new tariffs for automobiles and other goods than initially expected.
A group of top Trump administration officials reportedly shared sensitive military plans over the encrypted messaging app Signal just hours before the United States launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen, sparking a political storm in Washington.
Bank of America (BofA) said the recent volatility in Turkish markets has so far had only a limited inflationary impact, stressing that Türkiye’s economic management remains in control.
A severe cyberattack disabled Ukraine’s online railway ticketing system on Monday, causing extensive queues and disruptions, with Kyiv officials attributing the incident to a possible Russian attempt to destabilise the nation.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment