There has been a possible death of measles in the United States this year after a New Mexico resident tested positive for the virus after his death.
New Mexico’s Department of Health (NMDOH) He said Thursday The individual was not vaccinated and that the official cause of death is still under investigation.
The first measles death this year was reported in a child not vaccinated in school age linked to an outbreak in western Texas.
The death of Texas was the first measles death recorded in the US. In a decade, according to data for disease control and prevention centers (CDC).
New Mexico has reported a total of 10 measles cases so far this year, according to NMDOH. Many of the cases have been confirmed in Lea County, which limits with western Texas.
In this file without date, a child is shown with red eruption spots.
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Health officials suspect that there may be a connection between the cases of Texas and New Mexico, but a link has not yet been confirmed.
Health officials have urged anyone who is not vaccinated to receive the measles vaccine, papers, rubella (MMR).
CDC currently recommended That people receive two doses of vaccine, the first at the ages of 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years. A dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective. Most vaccinated adults do not need reinforcement.
“We do not want to see the new Mexicans get sick or die of measles,” said Dr. Chad Smelser, an deputy state epidemiologist of Nmdoh. “The Besampión-Bat-Rubella vaccine is the best protection against this serious disease.”
In western Texas, an outbreak has grown to 159 cases, according to new data published on Tuesday.
Almost all cases are in non -vaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, with 80 non -vaccinated and 74 unknown state. At least 22 people have been hospitalized so far, according to the Health Services of the Texas State Department (DSHS).
Children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years represent most cases with 74, followed by 53 cases between children 4 years or less.
The CDC has confirmed separately 164 cases In nine states so far this year in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Texas.
However, the total is a lower content due to delays in the reports of the states to the federal government.
