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Second measles death in Texas: All about the complication that led to the child's death

Second measles death in Texas: All about the complication that led to the child's death

TOI Lifestyle Desk / etimes.in / Apr 6, 2025, 22:21 IST

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An eight-year-old girl in Texas died from measles pulmonary failure amid a growing outbreak with over 500 infections this year. The child was unvaccinated, highlighting the risk of severe complications, including respiratory failure. This incident underscores the importance of vaccination as the virus also spreads to New Mexico and Oklahoma, causing more illnesses and hospitalizations.

Second measles death in Texas: All about the complication that led to the child's death

As the measles cases grow unabated, another child has lost life, intensifying the outbreak that has already led to over 500 infections since January, in Texas alone, the US health and human services department confirmed to NBC. However, the exact cause of the child's death isn't official yet.

The measles complication that proved deadly for the child

The New York Times reported on Sunday that the eight-year-old girl had died from "measles pulmonary failure" on Thursday at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, citing records obtained by the publication.
The hospital, UMC Health System, told NYT that the girl was unvaccinated and had no underlying health conditions.
US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. would reportedly attend the child's funeral.

Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine stance, had suggested Vitamin A and cod liver oil as the prevention strategy for measles, which led to multiple children developing Vitamin A toxicity.

Measles and respiratory distress

Measles can also lead to respiratory failure in certain cases. A highly contagious viral disease, it can lead to severe , including pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), both of which can impair breathing and oxygenation. In some cases, these complications progress to pulmonary failure, where the lungs cannot provide adequate oxygen to the body, necessitating interventions like mechanical ventilation.

Measles deaths in the current outbreak

An unvaccinated child died in February, marking the first Measles death in West Texas outbreak. Another unvaccinated person in New Mexico died after developing measles, however health officials are yet to confirm that he died due to measles complications.
West Texas has so far reported 481 cases of measles and 56 hospitalizations as of Friday per the Texas Department of State Health Services. The outbreak has also spread to surrounding areas, affected 54 people in New Mexico and 10 in Oklahoma.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus. It is preventable by vaccine. But without vaccines, the measles virus can turn deadly causing respiratory symptoms requiring hospitalization in about 1 in 5 cases. Pneumonia, swelling of the brain, pregnancy complications, premature birth and low birth weights are some of the complications.

Measles begin with non-specific symptoms like high fever, cough, runny nose, watery, and red eyes. A rash appears a few days later on face which eventually spreads to the neck, torso and the rest of the body. People infected with the virus are most contagious about four days before the rash appears and for about four days afterward.
(Images courtesy: iStock)

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