According to the report, this is the worst measles outbreak in years in the US, causing health officials and the community to raise warnings about the importance of vaccination.
On April 6 (local time), Vice President of UMC Medical Center in Texas, Mr. Aaron Davis, said that a child of school age, who had not been vaccinated against measles, died after being diagnosed with the disease.
This is the second death from measles in Texas since the beginning of the year. Previously, another child who had no underlying disease and had not been vaccinated died last month.
We are very saddened to announce that a child has passed away from measles. This once again highlights the essential importance of vaccination, Davis said.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that as of April 3, 60 cases of measles have been recorded in 21 states, from Alaska to Florida, including New York City. Of these, 97% have not been vaccinated against measles. Age analysis shows that 196 cases are children under 5 years old, 240 cases are from 5 to 19 years old and 159 cases are from 20 years old and above; the rest have not been determined to be of age.
The US CDC also confirmed that there have been 6 measles outbreaks nationwide since the beginning of the year. The rapid spread is believed to be due to low vaccination rates in a part of the population.
US Secretary of Health Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is expected to travel to Texas after being informed of a second death. Previously, Mr. Kennedy Jr. has made statements reducing the importance of vaccines, even though the country is currently facing a serious wave of epidemics.
In the context of the widespread epidemic and causing serious consequences, health experts have once again called on people to get their children fully vaccinated to prevent the risk of infection and death.