Synopsis
The CDC has sent a team to Texas to address a growing measles outbreak, with 159 cases reported since late January. The agency collaborates with local health departments to investigate and manage the situation, emphasizing the need for community action and vaccination.Key Takeaways
- CDC dispatched disease detectives to Texas.
- Total of 159 measles cases reported.
- One child fatality linked to the outbreak.
- Collaboration with local health departments ongoing.
- Vaccination emphasized as crucial for public health.
Los Angeles, March 5 (NationPress) The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deployed a team to the state of Texas to tackle the escalating measles outbreak, as announced by the agency.
In a statement released on Tuesday via the social media platform X, the CDC disclosed that it has dispatched some of its Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) "disease detectives" to the West Texas area, coinciding with the state's report of an additional 13 cases, raising the total to 159.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed a measles outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas, with 159 cases identified since late January. Notably, 22 individuals have been hospitalized, according to reports from Xinhua news agency.
Tragically, there has been one death involving a school-aged child from the outbreak area who was unvaccinated and had no known health issues, as per the Texas DSHS.
Given the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are anticipated in both the outbreak area and neighboring communities, warned the Texas DSHS.
The agency is collaborating with local health departments to probe the situation.
"The measles outbreak in Texas serves as a crucial reminder for all of us to strengthen our dedication to public health. By uniting—parents, healthcare professionals, community leaders, and government officials—we can avert future outbreaks and safeguard our nation's health," stated Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy noted that the CDC is offering technical assistance and vaccines to aid in the outbreak response, which includes laboratory support and supplying doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.
The outbreak has primarily affected a community of Mennonites in Gaines County, who have historically maintained lower vaccination rates.
A well-known vaccine skeptic, Kennedy had downplayed the outbreak during a Cabinet meeting with President Trump last week, suggesting it was "not unusual" and inaccurately claiming that many hospitalized individuals were there "mainly for quarantine purposes."
Although he has not openly promoted vaccination, in an op-ed published on the Fox News website on Sunday, he encouraged parents to consult with their doctors "to explore their options for receiving the MMR vaccine," while emphasizing that the vaccination choice is a "personal one."
