Latest news with #UMCHealthSystem
Dubai Eye
07-04-2025
- Health
- Dubai Eye
Second child dies in Texas measles outbreak
A second child with measles has died in Texas in an outbreak of the childhood disease that has resulted in nearly 500 cases in Texas and has spread across 22 states. The unvaccinated school-aged child, who had no underlying health conditions, died on Thursday in the hospital from measles pulmonary failure, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. "The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalised," Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said in an email. It is the second death of a child in Texas since the measles outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, where the vaccination rate is about 82 per cent, below the 95 per cent considered protective for those who cannot be vaccinated. When asked about the measles death, US President Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that if the outbreak progresses his administration will "have to take action very strongly." Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., in a post on X, identified the child as 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand and said he visited Texas on Sunday to comfort the family. Kennedy, an anti-vaccine advocate who has declared that vaccination is a personal choice, said on Sunday vaccines are the best protection against measles. "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," he said in the post on X. He said that as of Sunday there were 642 confirmed cases of measles, 499 of those in Texas. Kennedy has previously also recommended Vitamin A as a measles treatment, along with good nutrition. While Vitamin A has been shown in some studies in developing countries to lessen the severity of symptoms, it can lead to liver toxicity in high quantities. Republican US Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician who chairs the Senate health committee, wrote on X after the child's death was disclosed: "Everyone should be vaccinated." "Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies," Cassidy wrote on X. Cassidy had backed Kennedy's confirmation after Kennedy promised not to make changes to vaccine oversight. The measles vaccine is 97 per cent effective after two shots. He said teams from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have been redeployed to Texas at the request of the state's governor, Greg Abbott. The CDC on its website says the vaccine is "the best protection against measles," which spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Cassidy last week called for Kennedy to appear before the Senate health committee on April 10 to discuss the US health department's restructuring in which 10,000 people were being laid off, including from the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US sees third measles-related death amid outbreaks
A second school-age child who was hospitalized with measles is the third measles-related death in the U.S. since the virus started ripping through West Texas in late January. The child died Thursday, according to state health officials. The child was 8 years old, according to a statement from Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. A spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, confirmed the child was unvaccinated and being treated for measles complications. The U.S. now has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024, with Texas reporting another large jump in cases and hospitalizations on Friday. Other states with active outbreaks — defined as three or more cases — include New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. The virus has been spreading in undervaccinated communities. The multi-state outbreak confirms health experts' fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization said last week that cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak. Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus that's airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000. Here's what else you need to know about measles in the U.S. Texas' outbreak began more than two months ago. State health officials said Friday there were 59 new cases of measles since Tuesday, bringing the total to 481 across 19 counties — most of them in West Texas. The state also logged 14 new hospitalizations, for a total of 56 throughout the outbreak. More than 65% of Texas' cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus stated spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county now has logged 315 cases since late January — just over 1% of the county's residents. New Mexico announced six new cases Friday, bringing the state's total to 54. New Mexico health officials say the cases are linked to Texas' outbreak based on genetic testing. Most are in Lea County, where two people have been hospitalized, and two are in Eddy County. A child died of measles in Texas in late February — Kennedy said age 6 — and New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6. Kansas has 24 cases in six counties in the southwest part of the state as of Wednesday. Kiowa and Stevens counties have six cases each, while Grant, Morton, Haskell and Gray counties have five or fewer. The state's first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed. Cases in Oklahoma remained steady Friday: eight confirmed and two probable cases. The first two probable cases were 'associated' with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said. A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Tulsa and Rogers counties, but wouldn't say which counties had cases. Ohio reported one new measles case Thursday in west-central Allen County. Last week, there were 10 in Ashtabula County in the northeast corner of the state. The first case was in an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally. In central Ohio, Knox County officials reported two new measles cases in international visitors, for three cases in international visitors total. Those cases are not included in the state's official count because they are not in Ohio residents. A measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85 in 2022. Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. The agency counted six clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday. In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are generally traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. So far in 2025, the CDC's count is 607. The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old. People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions. Adults with 'presumptive evidence of immunity' generally don't need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally. A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but health experts don't always recommend this route and insurance coverage can vary. Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says. People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s don't need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from 'killed' virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who don't know which type they got. Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash. The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC. Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death. There's no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable. In communities with high vaccination rates — above 95% — diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called 'herd immunity.' But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots. The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
RFK Jr.: MMR vaccine 'most effective way' to prevent measles after 2nd Texas child dies
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Texas on Sunday after a second child died from measles amid an outbreak since January that's resulted in nearly 500 cases in Texas and has spread across 22 states. The school-aged child, who was unvaccinated and had no underlying health conditions, died on Thursday in the hospital from measles pulmonary failure, the Texas Department of State Health Services said. "The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized," Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, said in an email. It is the second death of a child in Texas since the measles outbreak began in late January. In a lengthy post on X Sunday, Kennedy said that he visited Gaines County in West Texas to console the families whose young children have died, later confirming that "the 642 confirmed cases of measles across 22 states, 499 of those in Texas." "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," Kennedy said, adding that he spoke to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and redeployed CDC teams to the state after Abbott's request. Kennedy's trip to Texas was first reported by Axios. Kennedy, who has a controversial history of questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines, including falsely linking them to autism, said people are being successfully treated with Vitamin A and cod liver oil for the highly contagious respiratory illness. Multiple children needed treatment for Vitamin A toxicity last week. People are also reading: RFK Jr. says measles infection may have benefits, but there's no conclusive evidence Kennedy said in his post that he visited Texas to comfort the Hildebrand family after their daughter's death. He added that he got to know the family of the first child in Texas to die in the measles outbreak, Kayley Fehr, "after she passed away in February." Kennedy's statement on using a vaccine to curb the spread of measles even surprised London-based infectious disease specialist Dr. Neil Stone. "Words I never thought I would hear Robert F Kennedy Jr say," Stone wrote on X. "He's absolutely 100% correct and I'm encouraged that he is speaking responsibly about measles in the face of this tragic outbreak." A child died from measles in late February as the outbreak spread in the South Plains and Lubbock region of Texas. That child was not vaccinated against the disease. A two-dose vaccine, usually administered as part of a combination with mumps and rubella or MMR vaccine, can prevent more than 97% of infections. Even if a vaccinated person does develop the illness, symptoms are generally mild and the illness is less contagious. Measles outbreaks have also been reported in Ohio, New Mexico, and Kansas. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a total of 607 confirmed measles cases as of Thursday across 21 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington. The Texas Department of State Health Services on Friday reported 59 new measles cases in three days, a 15% jump, for a total of 481 in the state since late January. As of Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a weekly nationwide increase of 124 measles cases, bringing the total to 607 this year. That compares to a nationwide total in 2024 of 285 reported cases. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. Without vaccinations, the measles virus can cause respiratory symptoms requiring hospitalization in about 1 in 5 cases; about 1 in 20 people with the virus will develop pneumonia. In rare cases, it can cause swelling of the brain and death; it can also cause pregnancy complications, premature birth and low birth weights. The virus is spread through contact with infectious droplets that can become airborne through coughing, breathing and sneezing. Measles symptoms can begin a week or two after infection and can include high fever, cough, runny nose, and watery, red eyes. Some will develop a flat red facial rash that eventually spreads to the neck, torso and the rest of the body. People are most contagious about four days before the rash appears and for about four days afterward, and should remain at home. Pediatricians and other doctors are pushing back against vaccine hesitancy and warning parents that vitamin A and other supplements touted by vaccine critics will not protect their children from the highly contagious and potentially fatal disease. The most recognizable symptom of measles is a red rash that appears three to five days after the initial symptoms. It begins as small, raised bumps on the face and near the hairline, creating a "splotchy red" look, before spreading downward across the body, the Austin American-Statesman previously reported. Most children are vaccinated with the first dose when they turn 1. A second dose is given between ages 4 and 6. A second dose can be given as soon as 28 days after the first dose. A first dose of the vaccine can start giving someone some protection within 72 hours and can be used to fight a measles exposure. A first dose provides about 93% protection after two weeks. After the second dose, a person has 97% protection. People who have received two doses of the measles vaccine do not need a booster, the CDC says. If you are unsure if you are vaccinated for the measles, talk to your healthcare provider. If you think you or a household or family member has measles, isolate at home and contact a trusted health care provider to arrange for testing. It's imperative to inform the provider about the possibility of measles and make appropriate arrangements to avoid exposing others to the virus. — USA TODAY and American-Statesman reporter Nicole Villalpando contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: RFK Jr. recommends MMR vaccine after 2nd measles death in Texas
Times of Oman
07-04-2025
- Health
- Times of Oman
US: Second child dies of measles in Texas, hundreds sick
Texas: A measles outbreak in southwestern United States has claimed the life of a second child, officials confirmed on Sunday. "We are deeply saddened to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has passed away," Aaron Davis, vice president of UMC Health System, a medical center in Texas, told AFP news agency. Davis added that the child, who had been receiving treatment for "complications of measles," did not have any underlying conditions and was not vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. In February, a child died of measles in the first death from the illness in the US in over a decade. The outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, a remote area in western Texas where the vaccination rate is lower than the protective rate of 95%. In March, an adult's death in the neighboring state of New Mexico was also classified as a measles-related death. Kennedy calls for vaccinations Robert F. Kennedy Jr , US President Donald Trump's health secretary, took to social media platform X on Sunday, saying "the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine." Kennedy is known for downplaying the importance of vaccines, which has alarmed healthcare experts across the nation. He has also described taking vaccines as a personal choice. Davis from the Texas medical centre said that the second measles death "underscores the importance of vaccination." Kennedy said that 642 cases of measles have been confirmed in 22 states, with 499 of them in Texas alone. He made the comments during a trip to Texas to meet the families of the two children who died of the illness. Trump, however, downplayed the outbreak when questioned by reporters onboard the Air Force One, saying it was "so far a fairly small number of people relative to what we're talking about." He promised "very strong action" would be taken if things worsened.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
US: Second child dies of measles in Texas, hundreds sick
A measles outbreak in southwestern United States has claimed the life of a second child, officials confirmed on Sunday. "We are deeply saddened to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has passed away," Aaron Davis, vice president of UMC Health System, a medical center in Texas, told AFP news agency. Davis added that the child had been receiving treatment for "complications of measles," did not have any underlying conditions and was not vaccinated against the highly infectious disease. In February, a child died of measles in first death from the illness in the US in over a decade. The outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, a remote area in western Texas where the vaccination rate is lower than the protective rate of 95%. In March, an adult's death in the neighboring state of New Mexico was also classified as a measles-related death. Robert F. Kennedy, US President Donald Trump's Health Secretary, took to social media platform X on Sunday, saying "the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine." Kennedy is known for downplaying the importance of vaccines, which has alarmed healthcare experts across the nation. He has also described taking vaccines as a personal choice. Davis from the Texas medical center said that the second measles death "underscores the importance of vaccination." Kennedy said that 642 cases of measles have been confirmed in 22 states with 499 of them in Texas alone. He made the comments during a trip to Texas to meet the families of the two children who died of the illness. I came to Gaines County, Texas, today to comfort the Hildebrand family after the loss of their 8-year-old daughter Daisy. I got to know the family of 6-year-old Kayley Fehr after she passed away in February. I also developed bonds with and deep affection for other members of… — Secretary Kennedy (@SecKennedy) April 6, 2025 Trump, however, downplayed the outbreak when questioned by reporters onboard the Air Force One, saying it was "so far a fairly small number of people relative to what we're talking about." He promised "very strong action" would be taken if things worsened. Edited by: Wesley Rahn
