CDC Sends Emergency Team To Combat Outbreak
A measles outbreak in Texas has expanded to 159 cases, prompting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to send a team to assist local health authorities. The CDC’s Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) is collaborating with the Texas Department of State Health Services to help manage the crisis.
This effort, known as an Epi-Aid, involves up to three weeks of support from the CDC to help local officials make timely decisions during public health emergencies. Texas health authorities reported that 22 individuals have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, with the majority of cases occurring in Gaines County, home to a significant unvaccinated Mennonite population.
The outbreak has led to the first U.S. measles-related death since 2015, involving an unvaccinated school-age child with no pre-existing health issues. This marks the first measles death of a child in the U.S. since 2003. Prior to the deployment of the CDC response team, the agency had already provided laboratory assistance and distributed measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccines to help contain the spread.
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke about the situation in interviews with Fox News, highlighting the distribution of treatments such as vitamin A, steroids, antibiotics, and cod liver oil to affected families. Kennedy emphasized efforts to build trust within the community, particularly in addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially in areas like the Mennonite community. He also noted that vaccination is not recommended for those with certain immune conditions but is crucial for protecting vulnerable individuals.
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