A second child has died from measles as an outbreak of the highly contagious virus continues to grow in western Texas. The school-aged child was not vaccinated and had no underlying health conditions before experiencing severe complications. This is the third death in recent weeks. US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr visited Texas on Sunday after the death, which has been confirmed in a statement on social media. The southern US state has reported over 480 cases of measles this year, a significant increase from last week’s 420 cases, with outbreaks also affecting neighboring states. Measles can cause serious complications, particularly for those who are unvaccinated. The US has seen over 600 measles cases so far this year, nearly three times the number of cases recorded in 2022. Many of the cases are linked to an outbreak in western Texas, as well as cases in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The CDC says the measles virus is associated with complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, and death. The US declared measles eliminated in 2000, but outbreaks have since increased due to a rise in vaccine skepticism. Booster shots have a 97% effectiveness rate, and achieving herd immunity requires around 95% of the population to be vaccinated. A religious community in Texas has been linked to the recent outbreak, where vaccination rates are low. Health Secretary Kennedy initially downplayed the outbreaks, but visited Texas after a child’s death in February, prompting criticism for his handling of the situation.
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