Latest news with #TexasDepartmentofHealth
Politico
09-07-2025
- Health
- Politico
The 2025 measles outbreak is largest in three decades
Kennedy has pointed to the much higher measles rates and death toll in Europe in arguing that the U.S. response to the outbreak 'is a model for the rest of the world.' He's asked the CDC to develop new guidance for treating the disease. 'People should be getting healthier. We've got more solutions. Medicine is advancing, and yet you're seeing people turning away from it,' said Dr. Amesh Adalja, an expert on infectious disease and senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. 'To me, this is the mentality of the Dark Ages.' The outbreak is primarily centered in Texas, where at least 750 cases have been reported . It's also spread to nearby communities in New Mexico and Kansas. The vast majority of cases have been in unvaccinated people, and the outbreak began in a religious community with a long history of vaccine skepticism. Three people in connection with the Texas outbreak this year — including 2 children — according to the CDC, and 162 people have been hospitalized. Both children were 'school-age,' according to the Texas Department of Health, and unvaccinated. Most U.S. states have seen at least one case of measles in 2025. Yearly measles cases dropped sharply in the 1990s after the CDC's panel of vaccine experts decided to add a second dose of the MMR vaccine to the childhood vaccine schedule. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000 because of widespread immunity through vaccinations, but public health experts have said that, this year, the U.S. is at risk of losing that designation . — Key context: The 2019 outbreak — like the 2025 Texas outbreak — was tied to close-knit religious communities with a history of vaccine skepticism. But national coverage for the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has fallen steadily in kindergarteners since the the Covid-19 pandemic — a trend public health experts and officials have said is likely tied to increased vaccine skepticism. The latest CDC data, for the 2022-2023 school year, found a two percent drop in the vaccination rate among kindergarteners compared to before the pandemic . Kennedy has shifted on his messaging around the outbreak, sometimes saying that vaccination is the best way to prevent the disease, but at other times inaccurately claiming the shot contains 'aborted fetus debris.'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
World's most infectious disease hits major US city of 8 million prompting major outbreak fears
The outbreak of the world's most infectious disease that began in West Texas has officially spread to a major city. Health officials reported yesterday that two measles cases detected in the Dallas-Forth Worth area, home to nearly 8million people, had been linked to the outbreak that has infected hundreds and killed two children. One case was in Collin County, which includes the suburbs of Plano and Frisco, while the other was in Rockwall County, on the edge of the metropolis. No further details were released on the patients, including their ages, vaccination status, how they were infected, or whether they passed the disease to others. But the infections have triggered alarm, especially given that the city has daily flights to other major cities including Los Angeles, New York, Houston and Chicago. The report comes barely a week after the US officially reported 1,000 measles cases this year — marking only the second time case counts have crossed this threshold since the disease was declared eradicated in 2000. Officials are warning if the disease continues to spread unabated, the US could lose its measles elimination status. The Texas Department of Health revealed the two new cases in an update released on its dashboard Tuesday. Seven measles cases have been reported in the Dallas-Forth Worth area - Dallas is the ninth largest city in the US - since the outbreak began in January. The five others have not been linked to the major outbreak, and are said to be due to people catching the virus from other sources. Collin County officials warned residents of a potential measles exposure on April 10 and 11, saying a patient visited several locations in Plano while infectious. These included a Walmart, Ross Dress for Less and a Dollar Tree. And in a warning on April 16, Rockwall County officials reported an individual who had tested positive for measles after recently traveling to West Texas. They said the patient was at home for most of their infectious period, and is now no longer infectious and has since recovered. Vaccination rates in the affected counties are as low as 92 percent, below the 95 percent experts say is needed to establish herd immunity. In Collin county, data shows 93.3 percent of kindergarteners were vaccinated against measles in 2023 and 2024, the latest data available. While in Rockwall county, fewer than 92 percent of kindergarteners were inoculated against the disease. A total of 717 measles cases have been reported in the Texas outbreak since January, making it the largest to rock the US since the disease was declared eliminated. There were more measles cases — 1,061 infections — recorded in a cluster in New York in 2019, but officials say this was due to people returning from abroad infected with measles and then passing on the disease. A total of 93 patients in the Texas outbreak have been hospitalized with the disease since the spread began, while nearly all the cases have been among people under 18 who were unvaccinated. The outbreak has already spread to at least nine other states, including neighboring New Mexico — reporting 71 cases — and Oklahoma — reporting 16 cases.
Yahoo
08-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles spreads to third New Mexico county
New Mexico reported measles in a third county on April 8, 2025 (illustrative photo by Getty Photos) The New Mexico health department on Tuesday reported an unvaccinated child in Chavez County has measles, adding a third county to the ongoing outbreak in the state's southeastern section. So far this year, the state has had 56 cases, all but three in Lea County, with two in Eddy County. The new case in Chavez is one of two new cases since the state's Friday report. 'A new case in a new county – and cases in now 22 U.S. states – is a reminder that measles is a highly contagious virus,' NMDOH Chief Medical Officer Dr. Miranda Durham said in a statement. 'It also underscores how the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine is the best way to prevent measles.' New Mexico's measles cases are believed to have originated in nearby Gaines County, Texas. The Texas Department of Health on Tuesday said its cases have now topped 500 and spread to 10 counties. U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, whose response to the outbreak has been criticized by New Mexico's federal delegation, over the weekend met with the families of children in Texas who died from measles, and subsequently posted a social media post in which he endorsed the MMR vaccine as the most effective way to stop the spread. The post from Kennedy, who founded the anti-vaccine nonprofit Children's Health Defense, angered some vaccine skeptics, NPR reported. Kennedy is also visiting Utah, Arizona and New Mexico this week, but HHS has not disclosed his New Mexico itinerary. New Mexico's vaccination rates both statewide and in the impacted area have increased. According to DOH, between Feb. 1 and April 3, 3,269 southeast New Mexico residents received the MMR vaccine – more than double the the number administered in the region during the same period last year. Statewide, between Feb. 1 and April 3, 16,455 New Mexicans have received the vaccine compared to 8,842 last year. Officials say one dose of the MMR vaccine, which provides lifetime protection, is 93% effective; two doses are 97% effective. The state has numerous public offices offering daily walk-in vaccinations, including at the Chaves County Public Health Office in Roswell. A person with measles can infect others from four days before rash onset through four days after the rash appears. Symptoms begin with a cough, runny nose and eye redness that progresses to fever and rash. The rash starts on the head before spreading to the whole body. People experiencing fever and rash should contact their doctors or emergency departments in advance so they can prepare for a visit by someone who might have measles. Nurses staff the NMDOH Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773), and can provide information in English and Spanish related to measles and vaccination questions. Find more information from the health department's measles guidance page, including a complete list of walk-in and scheduled vaccination clinics across New Mexico. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Saudi Gazette
07-04-2025
- Health
- Saudi Gazette
Second child dies of measles as Texas outbreak worsens
WASHINGTON — US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he has arrived in West Texas after a school-aged child died at a local hospital where they were receiving treatment for measles – marking the second death of a minor in the state linked to the ongoing outbreak. 'My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief,' Kennedy said in a post on X Sunday. A funeral for the latest victim was scheduled for Sunday afternoon, according to an obituary. HHS is partnering with Texas health officials to better combat the measles outbreak in the state and has deployed teams from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to the area, Kennedy added. As of Friday, Texas has reported 481 outbreak-associated cases, according to the Texas Department of Health. 'We are deeply saddened to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has passed away. The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized,' Aaron Davis, vice president of UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, told CNN in a statement.'It is important to note that the child was not vaccinated against measles and had no known underlying health conditions,' he measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles, Kennedy said Sunday.A Trump administration official told The New York Times the child's cause of death is 'still being looked at.'CNN did not immediately hear back from inquiries sent to the Texas Department of Health and first measles death linked to the ongoing outbreak was in an unvaccinated school-aged child in February. A death in New Mexico remains under outbreak – now spanning Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and possibly Kansas – reached at least 569 cases Friday, according to data obtained from state health Texas, nearly all outbreak-related cases were in unvaccinated people, and 70% were among children and teens, health department data shows. Many of those cases have broken out in West Texas, with Gaines County accounting for nearly 66% of Lubbock County, which accounts for nearly 7% of the confirmed cases in Texas, UMC Health has started offering drive-up measles screenings at both of its 24/7 urgent care New Mexico has reported 54 cases, and Oklahoma reported 10 cases – eight confirmed and two probable – as of Friday. Cases in Kansas, which the state health department said may be linked to the outbreak, reached 24 as of of those cases are among unvaccinated people, and experts say the numbers are most likely a severe undercount because many cases go most reported cases among minors, experts worry about increasing hospitalizations, especially in younger children who are at higher risk of complications.'The more children who get the disease means that there's an increased chance that there will be more children getting sicker with complications from measles,' said Dr. Christina Johns, a pediatric emergency physician at PM Pediatrics in Annapolis, Sen. Bill Cassidy, who is a physician, called on top health officials Sunday to address the measles outbreak.'Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles. Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies,' Cassidy wrote on has downplayed the severity of the outbreak and faced criticism of the agency's response to the outbreak has been 'abysmal,' said Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Philadelphia Children's highlighted the secretary's history of decrying vaccines and minimizing the risk of measles.'The disease has returned because a critical percentage of parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children, in large part because of misinformation provided by people like RFK Jr,' he said. — CNN
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
JFK's Grandson Trolls Cheryl Hines Over Measles Death
John F. Kennedy's grandson Jack Schlossberg is trolling his cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s wife Cheryl Hines for the recent—and incredibly rare—death of a child from measles in the U.S. Schlossberg took to Instagram less than a month after deleting his accounts as some sort of penance for insulting RFK Jr.'s voice. Now he's back, and calling out the Curb Your Enthusiasm star, who seems to have abandoned her own Democratic leanings to support her anti-vax husband's role as President Donald Trump's Health and Human Services secretary. 'Cheryl Hines, it's Jack Schlossberg,' he says in the video after apparently emerging from the shower in a towel—a nod to a video Hines posted of RFK Jr. post-shower last November. 'We've never met, but I've got a favor to ask. I need you to call up the family of the child who died of measles and say 'sorry.'' 'Can you do that for me, babe?' he asks, condescendingly. Texas, one of the states facing the highest concentration of measles cases in recent weeks, announced its first death from the preventable disease since 2015 late last month. The Texas Department of Health reported that the 'school-aged child' was not vaccinated. Its website also reported that the state was coping with 124 confirmed cases of measles since the outbreak began in January, and that 18 people have been hospitalized since then. The WHO and CDC foresaw that measles would become an 'imminent threat' in 2022, when the number of unvaccinated children hit a record high of 40 million. Still, newly sworn-in Health Secretary RFK Jr. has stuck to his unfounded theories about the supposed dangers of vaccines. Asked to comment about the death of the Texas child from the disease, Kennedy said, 'It is not unusual' and 'Measles outbreaks happen every day.' He then suggested 'Vitamin A' as a potential solution to the worsening crisis, even after facing backlash from the administration's own supporters as the outbreak worsens. Kennedy ultimately admitted it was 'serious' last week. Schlossberg, perhaps considering his cousin to be a lost cause, trolled Hines instead on Thursday. 'Almost every single case of measles is in someone who's not vaccinated,' he adds in the video.
