Measles outbreak in two US states has created panic as health officials are tracking it while cases rise to nearly 100.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 90 cases have been reported until last month in the South Plains area, in the north-west region of the state. The measles outbreak had majorly affected children as 77 of them were reported in children and teens under 17.
The health officials said that in New Mexico’s Lea County which is along the state’s eastern border with Texas, nine people have been affected with measles.
A health worker administers a measles test to a car passenger at a mobile testing site outside Seminole Hospital District in Seminole, Texas. (AP Photo)
Measles is said to be highly contagious and even deadly if worsening. The outbreak in the US comes as the new US President Donald Trump’s dispensation has been accused of flaring a rise in US’ anti-vaccine sentiment, including towards the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine that is received usually during childhood, the BBC reported.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) informed that measles cases have spread to Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island and Texas.
The CDC added that the measles cases in 95% of the individuals were those who either had not been vaccinated or had an unknown status, while 4% of the patients were those who had received the first dose of measles-mumps-rubella vaccine.
According to Dr. Amesh Adalja of John Hopkins University, “It is troubling, because this was completely preventable. It’s the most contagious infectious disease known to humans,” BBC News reported quoting CBS News.
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The symptoms of measles include illness, followed by runny nose, fever, eye irritation, cough, signature rash among others.
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