Lubbock, Texas – A tragic incident has occurred in West Texas, with the death of a school-age child due to measles, marking the first death in the United States from the disease in ten years. Authorities from the city of Lubbock’s health department have confirmed that the child had not been vaccinated against measles.

The outbreak of measles in rural West Texas has rapidly spread, infecting over 124 individuals, predominantly children. Reports indicate that 18 people have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, as stated by the Texas Department of State Health Services. However, the actual number of hospitalizations may vary.

Dr. Lara Johnson, the chief medical officer at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, revealed that around 20 children have been treated for measles. All of these cases were severe, resulting in hospitalization, primarily due to breathing difficulties. Shockingly, none of the affected children had received the measles vaccination.

The outbreak has been contained within areas of Texas near the New Mexico border, with the latter also reporting nine cases of measles. Investigations are ongoing to determine any potential connections between the cases in the two states. The origin of the outbreak remains unclear.

Genotype testing conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Texas Department of State Health Services linked the outbreak to a specific strain of the measles virus called D8, currently circulating in Europe and the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean region. Notably, none of the samples have been linked to the vaccine.

In a distressing turn of events, this marks the first measles-related death in the United States since 2015, when a woman from Washington succumbed to the disease. The United States had declared measles eliminated in 2000, attributing this achievement to the widespread adoption of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR), which is highly effective in preventing the disease.

This tragic incident underscores the importance of vaccinations in preventing the spread of infectious diseases and protecting vulnerable populations from serious health risks. Health authorities emphasize the significance of vaccination programs in safeguarding public health and preventing such heartbreaking outcomes in the future.