Second death reported as measles cases climb in Texas, New Mexico

Well being officers in New Mexico mentioned yesterday that an unvaccinated grownup who lately died examined constructive for measles.

Though the reason for dying remains to be beneath investigation, officers with the New Mexico Division of Well being (NMDOH) mentioned their lab had confirmed the presence of the measles virus within the Lea County resident, who didn’t search medical therapy earlier than passing.

The case is a part of New Mexico’s rising measles outbreak, which is now as much as 30 circumstances, NMDOH officers reported at the moment. All of the circumstances have been in Lea County, which borders Gaines County in Texas—the middle of that state’s ongoing measles outbreak.

NMDOH officers urged residents to get vaccinated to make sure safety in opposition to the extremely contagious virus.

“We don’t need to see New Mexicans getting sick or dying from measles,” Chad Smelser, MD, NMDOH deputy state epidemiologist, mentioned in a press launch. “The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the very best safety in opposition to this severe illness.”

Texas outbreak as much as 198 circumstances

In the meantime, the measles outbreak in west Texas, which started in late January, continues to develop. Officers with the Texas Division of State Well being Companies (DSHS) mentioned at the moment in an replace that the nine-county outbreak is now at 198 circumstances, with 137 in Gaines County.

Twenty-three of the case-patients have been hospitalized, with one dying reported in an unvaccinated school-age youngster. It was the primary US measles dying since 2015.

Of the circumstances, 80 are unvaccinated and 113 have unknown vaccination standing, and 153 have been in kids beneath 18 years. Gaines County has one of many highest charges of school-aged kids in Texas who’ve opted out of at the very least one vaccine.

The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) mentioned earlier this week that its investigators had been partnering with the DSHS to answer the measles outbreak. A CDC replace at the moment places reported US measles circumstances for the 12 months at 222 as of March 6, with three outbreaks (outlined as 3 circumstances or extra). A complete of 285 US measles circumstances had been reported in all of 2024.

This 12 months’s circumstances have occurred in 12 states, and 94% have been in people who find themselves unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination standing.

In a Well being Alert Community advisory at the moment, the CDC mentioned extra circumstances are anticipated within the quickly rising outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico. The company additionally mentioned that, with spring and summer season journey season beneath method, healthcare professionals must be vigilant for circumstances of febrile rash that meet the measles definition and will be certain that sufferers planning worldwide journey are updated on MMR vaccine.

Highlight on HHS Secretary

The outbreak is placing a highlight on new Division of Well being and Human Companies Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine critic who has promoted the debunked principle that the MMR vaccine is linked to the rise in autism diagnoses. Regardless of the existence of quite a few research which have discovered no such affiliation, Reuters stories at the moment that the CDC is planning a big examine on vaccines and autism.

Though Kennedy mentioned in an opinion piece on the Fox Information web site that vaccines shield kids from measles and contribute to neighborhood immunity, he additionally mentioned the choice to vaccinate is a private one, that improved sanitation and vitamin previous to introduction of the MMR vaccine in 1960 had been accountable for many of the reductions in measles deaths, and that good vitamin “stays a finest protection in opposition to most persistent and infectious sicknesses.”

In distinction, communication from each Texas and New Mexico well being officers has emphasised that vaccination is one of the simplest ways to stop measles.

In a subsequent interview, Kennedy additionally promoted the advantages of vitamin A for treating measles, which has no particular antiviral therapy. A well being alert from the NMDOH notes that whereas vitamin A could also be administered in kids and infants who’ve extreme measles as a part of supportive administration, it is not going to stop an infection and shouldn’t be given prophylactically.

Vaccination first line of protection

Throughout a media briefing held at the moment by the Infectious Ailments Society of America, public well being officers from New York and Missouri addressed the Texas outbreak and a few of Kennedy’s feedback.

“We within the infectious illness and medical neighborhood know that measles vaccination is our first line of protection in opposition to measles in kids and adults, and we strongly encourage vaccinations,” mentioned Dial Hewlett, MD, of the Westchester County Division of Well being. “That is to not say that sanitation isn’t vital; it is simply to say that the vaccine is crucial factor so far as stopping the incidence of measles in an outbreak.”

Mati Hlatshwayo Davis, MD, director of well being for the Metropolis of St. Louis, mentioned vitamin A isn’t a alternative for the MMR vaccine. She defined that whereas vitamin A supplementation has been proven to scale back measles mortality in malnourished populations in resource-limited nations, the place vitamin A deficiencies are widespread, the advantages in well-nourished populations are unclear.

We within the infectious illness and medical neighborhood know that measles vaccination is our first line of protection in opposition to measles in kids and adults, and we strongly encourage vaccinations.

Davis additionally famous that high-dose vitamin A remedy carries security dangers, together with liver harm and elevated intracranial strain.

“Whereas vitamin A might help therapy in extreme circumstances, it doesn’t cease the unfold of measles or present long-term safety,” she mentioned. “Solely vaccination can try this.”