A school-aged child died of measles in the US state of Texas on Wednesday, where an outbreak of the disease has been reported.
A press release from the state health department said the child fell ill in the city of Lubbock, which is located in the western part of the state. The area has so far recorded 124 people who have contracted measles, most of whom have not been vaccinated against the disease. 18 people have even had to be hospitalised.
The bulk of those infected are adolescents and children (62 cases), as well as children under four years of age (39 cases).
Lubbock city official Lauren Adams confirmed the death of the child to reporters on Wednesday. Many of those who fell ill belonged to Mennonite communities, she said.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the death rate from measles in the United States ranges from 1 to 3 cases for every 1,000 people. The most recent death from the disease was recorded in 2015.
In 2000, the US declared the elimination of continuous transmission of measles within a year. In 2024, there will be 285 cases of measles infection in the United States and 59 cases in 2023.
