2 Lives Lost as Measles Epidemic Strikes the Southwest United States

In alarming news, an outbreak of measles sweeping across the Southwest United States has claimed the lives of two individuals and infected nearly 230 others, as according to the latest figures made public on Friday, 7 March. This surge has prompted federal health authorities to issue urgent warnings aimed at both travellers and healthcare professionals.

The state of Texas reported a staggering 198 cases, while New Mexico accounted for 30 infections.

Tragically, each of these states has also confirmed one death attributed to the disease, both of whom were unvaccinated.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), America’s leading public health agency, has classified these fatalities as directly linked to the ongoing measles crisis.

“Further cases are anticipated as this outbreak continues to spread rapidly,” the CDC cautioned in a health alert aimed at healthcare workers, public health officials, and potential travellers.

Measles is a highly contagious and dangerous illness that is transmitted through respiratory droplets and can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left an area.

The disease typically presents with fever, respiratory symptoms, and a distinctive rash, but can also lead to serious complications, including pneumonia, encephalitis, and even death.

Vaccination remains the most effective means of protection against this disease.

The measles vaccine, which is mandatory for children aged 12 months and older, offers a lifelong immunity of 93% after just one dose and 97% after two doses.

However, vaccination rates have sharply declined across the United States, particularly in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has fueled a wave of misinformation regarding vaccines.

The CDC recommends a vaccination rate of at least 95% to ensure herd immunity, yet national coverage among preschool-aged children has plummeted to 92.7% for the 2023-2024 period.

Robert Kennedy Jr., a former health minister under Donald Trump, has spent decades propagating the unfounded notion that there is a link between vaccines and autism—a claim that has been categorically debunked by scientific research.

While he has recently softened his stance in light of the current outbreak, his rhetoric has nonetheless contributed to vaccine hesitancy.

It is worth noting that before this outbreak, the last recorded measles-related death in the United States occurred in 2015.

As this crisis unfolds, the urgency for increased vaccination and public health awareness has never been greater.

© Agence France-Presse

Source: Defi Media