Written By: Satata Karmakar | Published : March 8, 2025 12:46 PM IST
Measles Alert In US: Unvaccinated Texas Man Dies After Contracting Virus, CDC Warns of Massive Surge In Cases
Measles Outbreak In US: The United States has been put on high alert after Texas reported its second measles death on Friday. According to the reports, an unvaccinated Texas man who died last week tested positive for the measles virus infection. Speaking to the media, US health officials said, "Measles is spreading rapidly in West Texas, with over 250 cases as of Tuesday. Most of the cases are in Gaines County. In neighboring Lea County, New Mexico, 10 cases have been identified".
This is the US' second measles death. As per records, a school-age child in Texas last week was the first person to have died in the outbreak and the first to have died from measles in the United States in a decade.
Responding to queries about the current measles outbreak in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said, "More cases are expected as this outbreak continues to expand rapidly," the CDC warned in a Health Alert Network advisory to healthcare workers, public health officials, and potential travelers.
"With spring and summer travel season approaching in the United States, CDC emphasizes the important role that clinicians and public health officials play in preventing the spread of measles," the agency further added.
Measles is one of the most contagious viral infections known to mankind. The infection is caused is the measles virus (MeV), a member of the paramyxovirus family. According to the studies, the virus infection transmits via infected respiratory droplets, especially when the infected person coughs or sneezes. Just like any other virus, Measles can also survive in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, making it extremely easy to transmit.
How do you know if you are infected? Here are the top 5 warning signs one should look out for:
How long does it take for someone to recover from the infection? While most individuals recover from measles within two weeks, complications can arise, particularly in children under five, pregnant women, and immunocompromised individuals. Severe complications include:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), measles remains one of the leading causes of death among young children globally, despite the availability of a highly effective vaccine.
Experts say the most effective way to prevent measles is the MMR vaccine. Two doses are 97% effective. On Sunday, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote in an editorial that "vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity."
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