Two dead, nearly 230 sickened in US measles outbreak

As of Friday, Texas had reported 198 cases and New Mexico 30, bringing the total to 228. Each state confirmed one death, both involving unvaccinated individuals. The Texas patient was a child, while the New Mexico patient was an adult who tested positive for measles posthumously.

CDC classification and warnings
Although the official cause of the adult's death has not been released, the CDC has classified it as a measles-related fatality. The CDC warned that "more cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly" in a Health Alert Network advisory.

Travel season precautions
With the spring and summer travel season approaching, the CDC emphasized the role of clinicians and public health officials in preventing the spread of measles. They should be vigilant for febrile rash illnesses and promote effective vaccination strategies for international travelers.

Measles contagion and symptoms
Measles is highly contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets and lingering in the air for up to two hours. Symptoms include fever, respiratory issues, and a rash, but it can lead to severe complications like pneumonia, brain inflammation, and death.

Importance of vaccination
Vaccination remains the best protection against measles. The vaccine confers 93 percent lifetime immunity after one dose, increasing to 97 percent after two. However, immunization rates have declined in the US, particularly due to vaccine misinformation exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Declining immunization rates
The CDC recommends a 95 percent vaccination rate for herd immunity, yet coverage among kindergartners fell to 92.7 percent by 2023-2024. Rising religious exemptions contribute to this decline, particularly in a west Texas county with a large vaccine-hesitant Mennonite community.

Misleading claims and current guidance
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has previously linked the MMR vaccine to autism—a claim debunked by research. He has since softened his stance, recommending vaccination while promoting treatments like vitamin A and steroids, which may divert focus from the urgent need to improve immunization rates.

Historical context of measles deaths
Before this outbreak, the last US measles-related death occurred in 2015, when a Washington state woman died from virus-induced pneumonia while on immunosuppressive medication. The previous fatality was in 2003.