Latest news with #ZachHolbrooks
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Unvaccinated child dies amid Texas measles outbreak, first death in US since 2015
Texas officials on Wednesday announced the first death in the state's ongoing measles outbreak. A school-age child has died of measles in West Texas, the first death from the disease in the U.S. since 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Gaines County resident died in Lubbock, Zach Holbrooks, public health director and executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, said in an email. In a statement, Lubbock city and Texas health officials confirmed the patient was an unvaccinated school-aged child who died in the last 24 hours. So far, 124 people are known to have been infected, mostly among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status, state data showed. There have been 18 people hospitalized. Measles — also called rubeola — is highly contagious and can be serious and even fatal for small children. While death rates have been falling worldwide as more children receive the measles vaccine, the disease still kills more than 200,000 people a year, mostly children, according to Mayo According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. A high percentage of people were receiving effective measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines. As per the CDC, the decline in measles vaccination rates globally increases the risk of larger measles outbreaks worldwide. Global measles activity is increasing, meaning more chances of an unvaccinated person infected with measles abroad returning to the U.S. The CDC also says MMR vaccination rates for U.S. kindergarteners have fallen below the 95% target and are even lower in certain communities, with the trend continuing downward. The first symptoms of measles last two to three days and are non-specific and mild. Here's what to pay attention to if an unvaccinated child or person is feeling ill: Cough Runny nose Itchy, watery eyes A high fever Small white spots (Koplik's spots) inside the inner lining of the cheek. A red rash usually develops three to five days after the first symptoms. It looks like small raised bumps that erupt on the face and near the hairline, giving it a "splotchy red appearance" and then spreading down to the rest of the body. There is a vaccine. The CDC recommends getting vaccinated with two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine according to the immunization schedule. Ideally, children between 12 and 15 months get their first dose, followed by a second dose at 4 to 6 years old. -USA TODAY Network Health and Wellness reporter Eduardo Cuevas contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Child dies amid Texas measles outbreak, first death in US since 2015
USA Today
26-02-2025
- Health
- USA Today
A child has died in the Texas measles outbreak – the first US measles death since 2015
A child has died in the Texas measles outbreak – the first US measles death since 2015 Show Caption Hide Caption Measles outbreak infects dozens, spreads to multiple states A measles outbreak has infected dozens in Texas and New Mexico, with cases also reported in Alaska, Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island. Texas officials on Wednesday announced the first measles death in the state's ongoing outbreak of the highly contagious disease. The death, of a school-age child, is the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Gaines County resident died in Lubbock, Zach Holbrooks, public health director and executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, said in an email. In a statement, Lubbock city and Texas health officials confirmed the hospitalized patient was an unvaccinated school-aged child who died in the last 24 hours. So far, 124 people are known to have been infected, mostly among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status, state data showed. There have been 18 people hospitalized. The outbreak is believed to have first begun in rural West Texas, in an under-vaccinated Mennonite community in Gaines County, where 80 cases have been identified so far. It has since stretched out across multiple counties and across state lines to New Mexico. Texas health officials have warned the primary factor for its spread, not just among Mennonite people, has been among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status. So far, nine people, including four children, have been infected in an adjacent New Mexico county, state health officials said. All have been among people who weren't vaccinated or had no known vaccination status. In 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. But as vaccination rates have dropped, cases have reappeared. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
CNN
18-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some people who said they were vaccinated
The number of measles cases linked to an outbreak in West Texas has grown to 58, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Most of the cases are centered in Gaines County, which is reporting 45 cases. Other surrounding areas are seeing spread of the illness too, with 9 cases in Terry County, two in Yoakum County, one in Lynn County and one in Lubbock County. The cases are mostly in children ages 5 to 17. Although most of the cases are in unvaccinated people or those whose vaccination status is unknown, there were four cases of measles in people who said they had been vaccinated. No other details were immediately available about those four people. In all of the cases, symptoms began in the past three weeks. Thirteen of the people have been hospitalized. Local health departments in West Texas are hosting free vaccination clinics for the community. There have been at least 95 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations at a clinic hosted by the South Plains Public Health District, which includes Gaines County, according to Zach Holbrooks, the health district's executive director. The clinic recently expanded its hours to be open seven days a week for vaccinations. Given how contagious measles is, health officials warn that cases may continue to rise in the area. Measles is an airborne illness that can cause rash, fever, red eyes and cough. Severe cases can result in blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. In some cases, the illness can be fatal. Coverage of the MMR vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Other affected Texas counties also fall below the goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the MMR vaccine, a threshold set by the US Department of Health and Human Services to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. Lynn, Lubbock and Yoakum counties all stand around 92%, according to data from the Texas Department of Health. The US has now fallen short of that threshold for four years in a row. Eight cases of measles have also been detected in Lea County, New Mexico, which borders Gaines County, Texas, the New Mexico Department of Health said. The agency has not confirmed any direct contact with the Texas cases. The five newest cases, reported Tuesday, are in a single family that is isolating. Of the eight total cases in Lea County, six are in unvaccinated people. The other two people believe they were vaccinated, according to Robert Nott, the state health department communications director. None of the eight has been hospitalized. The New Mexico health department is also holding free vaccination clinics for Lea County. There were 285 measles cases reported in the US last year, the most since 2019, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Clarification: This story has been updated to reflect that the four Texas patients who were vaccinated self-reported their status, according to the state health department.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated individuals
The number of measles cases linked to an outbreak in West Texas has grown to 58 cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Most of the cases are centered in Gaines County, which is reporting 45 cases. Other surrounding areas are seeing spread of the illness too, with 9 cases in Terry County, 2 in Yoakum County, 1 in Lynn County and 1 in Lubbock County. The cases are mostly in children ages 5 to 17 years old. While most cases are in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown status, there were 4 cases of measles in people who were vaccinated. CNN is working to obtain more information regarding the vaccinated cases. All experienced an onset of symptoms in the past three weeks. Among the 58 cases, 13 have been hospitalized. Local health departments in West Texas are hosting free vaccination clinics for the community. There have been at least 95 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations at the clinic hosted by South Plains Public Health District, which includes Gaines County, according to Zach Holbrooks, the health district's executive director. The clinic recently expanded its hours to be open seven days a week for vaccinations. Given how contagious measles is, health officials warn that cases may continue to rise in the area. Measles is an airborne illness that can cause rash, fever, red eyes and cough. Severe cases can result in blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. In some cases, the illness can be fatal. Coverage of the MMR vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine. Other affected Texas counties also fall below the goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the MMR vaccine, a threshold set by the US Department of Health and Human Services to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. Lynn, Lubbock, and Yoakum counties all stand around 92%, according to data from the Texas Department of Health. The US has now fallen short of that threshold for four years in a row. Three cases of measles have been detected in a bordering county in New Mexico, officials said on Friday. While connection to the Texas outbreak is 'suspected,' investigation is ongoing, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. There were 285 measles cases reported in the US last year, the most since 2019, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, cases have been identified in Texas, Alaska, New Mexico, Georgia, Rhode Island and New York City.
CNN
18-02-2025
- Health
- CNN
West Texas measles outbreak grows to 58 cases, including some vaccinated individuals
The number of measles cases linked to an outbreak in West Texas has grown to 58 cases, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Most of the cases are centered in Gaines County, which is reporting 45 cases. Other surrounding areas are seeing spread of the illness too, with 9 cases in Terry County, 2 in Yoakum County, 1 in Lynn County and 1 in Lubbock County. The cases are mostly in children ages 5 to 17 years old. While most cases are in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown status, there were 4 cases of measles in people who were vaccinated. CNN is working to obtain more information regarding the vaccinated cases. All experienced an onset of symptoms in the past three weeks. Among the 58 cases, 13 have been hospitalized. Local health departments in West Texas are hosting free vaccination clinics for the community. There have been at least 95 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations at the clinic hosted by South Plains Public Health District, which includes Gaines County, according to Zach Holbrooks, the health district's executive director. The clinic recently expanded its hours to be open seven days a week for vaccinations. Given how contagious measles is, health officials warn that cases may continue to rise in the area. Measles is an airborne illness that can cause rash, fever, red eyes and cough. Severe cases can result in blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. In some cases, the illness can be fatal. Coverage of the MMR vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. Other affected Texas counties also fall below the goal that at least 95% of children in kindergarten will have gotten two doses of the MMR vaccine, a threshold set by the US Department of Health and Human Services to help prevent outbreaks of the highly contagious disease. Lynn, Lubbock, and Yoakum counties all stand around 92%, according to data from the Texas Department of Health. The US has now fallen short of that threshold for four years in a row. Three cases of measles have been detected in a bordering county in New Mexico, officials said on Friday. While connection to the Texas outbreak is 'suspected,' investigation is ongoing, according to the New Mexico Department of Health. There were 285 measles cases reported in the US last year, the most since 2019, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year, cases have been identified in Texas, Alaska, New Mexico, Georgia, Rhode Island and New York City.
