A measles outbreak is spreading in Texas and New Mexico, with nearly 300 reported cases. Health officials are sounding the alarm, especially for young children who could face severe, long-lasting health issues.
Texas has reported 259 cases, while New Mexico has seen 35. Overall, infections have also popped up in 13 other states. Doctors worry about a serious brain condition called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) that may become more common with these infections.
SSPE is a rare but deadly brain inflammation that can develop 7 to 10 years after a measles infection. Currently, there’s no cure for this condition, which almost always leads to death, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
“We are seeing that toddlers under the age of two are at a higher risk for SSPE than previously thought,” said Adam Ratner, a pediatric infectious disease expert in New York City, in an interview with NPR. His warning highlights the urgency of vaccination, especially for young children.
Typically, the U.S. only sees four to five SSPE cases each year. However, with more measles cases emerging and a growing number of unvaccinated individuals, this number could rise. The NIH estimates that about four to eleven cases of SSPE occur for every 100,000 measles infections. The condition is more prevalent in kids under five.
Measles can also lead to immune amnesia, which means that people lose their developed antibodies. This loss makes them more susceptible to other viruses and bacteria they had previously been protected against.
Before the measles vaccine was widely adopted in the 1960s, the illness caused many childhood fatalities. By 2000, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S., but the rise in vaccine hesitancy has led to a resurgence of cases.
Tragically, just last week, New Mexico reported its second death this year from measles in an unvaccinated adult, following the death of an unvaccinated child earlier this year. This highlights the ongoing risks associated with the current outbreak.
To combat this situation, health experts strongly recommend vaccinating children against measles. Vaccination not only protects them but also helps safeguard the community by preventing further outbreaks. As we see rising infection rates and dire warnings from health officials, the importance of immunization has never been clearer.
Check out this related article: Unraveling the Mystery: New Evidence in the Timeline of Gene Hackman and Betsy Arakawa’s Death
Source linkUS News,diseases,measles,public health,vaccination
