Additional Coverage:
- As Texas measles outbreak grows, here’s what to know about the disease, vaccines and response (nbcnews.com)
Lubbock Child’s Measles Death Underscores Vaccination Concerns Amid Texas Outbreak
Tragedy struck West Texas this week as a school-aged child in Lubbock became the first measles fatality in the U.S. in a decade. The child was unvaccinated, highlighting the critical role of immunization amid a growing measles outbreak.
With 146 reported cases, Texas accounts for the vast majority of the 164 measles cases nationwide. This rapid escalation since the outbreak’s initial report in early February has reignited anxieties about measles elimination in the U.S. and overall public vulnerability.
Containing a measles outbreak involves isolating infected individuals, tracing their contacts, and providing vaccinations to those not up-to-date. Exposed individuals require testing and monitoring for up to 21 days.
For the unvaccinated, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, administered within 72 hours of exposure, can prevent or mitigate the disease’s severity. While the standard MMR vaccination schedule involves doses at 12-15 months and 4-6 years, infants as young as six months can receive a dose during outbreaks.
Younger infants and the immunocompromised may receive an antibody injection within six days of exposure.
In response to the Texas outbreak, the CDC has supplied 2,000 MMR vaccine doses at the state’s request. While Texas hasn’t requested on-the-ground assistance, the White House confirms close monitoring and coordination with state health authorities.
The CDC, meanwhile, has referenced a statement by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., confirming standard response measures like lab support and communication with affected areas.
Kennedy’s statement also addressed a change on the CDC measles website, now stating that vitamin A may be administered to infants and children with measles under medical supervision. This follows Kennedy’s previous, controversial suggestion of “chicken soup and vitamin A” as a measles remedy. However, medical experts at a Lubbock County news conference cautioned against high doses of vitamin A, emphasizing its potential dangers and the difference between U.S. health standards and those in developing countries.
Measles’s high contagiousness, surpassing even COVID-19, raises significant public health concerns. Spread through coughing, sneezing, talking, and breathing, the virus can linger in the air for up to two hours. An infected individual can transmit measles up to four days before and after the characteristic rash appears.
Children under five face the greatest risk due to potential vaccination gaps and developing immune systems. Pregnant individuals and the immunocompromised are also vulnerable to complications.
Measles typically presents with high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes, followed by white spots inside the cheeks and a blotchy red rash. Severe complications like pneumonia and brain swelling can be fatal in 1 to 3 out of every 1,000 childhood cases.
While the U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000, occasional outbreaks occur, often introduced from other countries. Declining vaccination rates, however, have facilitated local spread.
Maintaining elimination status necessitates over 95% vaccination coverage, a threshold now threatened by a drop in MMR vaccination rates among kindergartners. With 285 cases last year and this year’s trajectory exceeding that, experts express concerns about backsliding on elimination goals.
The MMR vaccine, available since 1971, boasts 97% effectiveness with two doses, typically providing lifelong protection. Deemed overwhelmingly safe, common side effects are mild and the debunked link to autism stems from retracted research.
While breakthrough infections in vaccinated individuals are rare and typically mild, additional boosters are generally not recommended. Adults vaccinated before 1968 or born before 1957 may consider additional doses or be considered immune, respectively.
Those uncertain about their vaccination status can consult health departments or clinics for records or discuss antibody testing with their healthcare provider.
Growing vaccine hesitancy also threatens a resurgence of other childhood diseases. Declining vaccination rates for polio, varicella, and diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis, coupled with a rise in pertussis cases last year, underscore the potential for widespread vulnerability. Experts warn that eroding herd immunity could lead to a cascade of preventable illnesses beyond measles.