USA records first death as measles outbreak begin

The First death in the United States Of America measles outbreak is a unvaccinated child in Texas.

The current outbreak is centered in north-western Texas, with measles also recently found across the state's border in New Mexico, as well as Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City and Rhode Island, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Centers for Disease Control says most US children receive two immunization shots to protect against the illness, which together are 97% effective in protecting against measles, according to the CDC.

They say vaccination rates in Texas are 94.3%, which is below the 95% level that the Infectious Diseases Society of America says is needed to also protect those who are not immunized, commonly called herd immunity.

According to the society, the last US measles death was in 2015.

A measles infection can have particularly devastating complications for pregnant women and young children, including pneumonia, neurological impairment, hearing loss and death.

Survivors are at risk of developing a degenerative brain and nervous system disease known as subacute sclerosing panencephalitis.

[Source: BBC]