Two children have died in the US state of Texas from complications caused by measles, where an outbreak has increased the number of cases to nearly 500 and spread to 22 other US states, US officials said.
The school-age child was unvaccinated, had no underlying health problems and was in hospital due to complications from measles, Aaron Davis, vice president of UMC Health System, told the BBC.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, who has faced criticism for his handling of the outbreak, visited Texas on Sunday.
"The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine," Kennedy wrote on the social media platform X.
The South American country has reported more than 480 cases of measles this year as of Friday. The outbreak has also spread to neighboring countries.
Health officials in Texas said the second child to die was an 3-year-old unvaccinated girl who had no other medical conditions. She died April XNUMX in a hospital of respiratory failure caused by measles, officials said.
Kennedy said there are 642 confirmed cases of measles, 499 of them in Texas alone.
He added that teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were sent to Texas at the request of Governor Greg Abbott.
In the past, Kennedy recommended vitamin A and good nutrition as treatments for smallpox.
Studies in some developing countries have shown that vitamin A can reduce the severity of symptoms, but can also cause liver toxicity if taken in large amounts.
Many Democrats opposed the nomination of Kennedy — the son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of President John F. Kennedy — because of his unusual health theories, including his anti-vaccine stance.
Officials said the measles vaccine is 97 percent effective after two doses.
On its website, the CDC states that the vaccine is "the best protection against measles."
Besides Texas, the states with active cases - with three or more cases - are New Mexico, Kansas, Ohio and Oklahoma. The disease is spreading in areas with low vaccination rates.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said last week that measles cases in Mexico were linked to those in Texas.
What is smallpox?
Smallpox (measles, mumps or rubella) is an infectious disease that is transmitted by droplets and has an incubation period of seven to 14 days.
The clinical picture is usually accompanied by elevated body temperature and a rash all over the body.
The most common complications are inflammation of the ear, lungs, meninges, and brain, which can lead to permanent damage and death.
According to the WHO, it is one of the most contagious diseases.
Measles infection can be prevented by vaccination.
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