An unvaccinated child has died from measles in West Texas, the first death in an outbreak that broke out late last month.
It is also the first death from measles in the US since 2015.
The death was a “school-aged child who was not vaccinated” and had been admitted to hospital last week, the Texas Department of State Health Services said on Wednesday in a statement.
Lubbock health officials also confirmed the death, but neither agency provided more details. Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment
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The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 124 cases across nine counties, the state health department said Tuesday.
The vast majority of cases are among people younger than 18, according to Texas health department data.
There are also nine cases in eastern New Mexico.
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“The loss of a child is a tragedy” and Governor Greg Abbott and his wife are praying for “the family, loved ones and the entire Lubbock community”, Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said.
Gaines County, which has 80 cases, has one of the highest rates in Texas of school-aged children who opt out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14% of children from kindergarten to the age of 16-17 in the 2023-24 school year.
The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed the child’s death reported on Wednesday is the first measles death in the country since 2015.
Measles usually starts with cold-like symptoms, followed by a rash a few days later. Some people may also get small spots in their mouth, according to the NHS.
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The measles infection can spread very rapidly and lead to serious complications, lifelong disability and even death.
It can affect the lungs and brain and cause pneumonia, meningitis, blindness and seizures.
The NHS says the best way to protect yourself against measles is vaccination.
