The first death related to the ongoing measles outbreak has been reported in the U.S. state of Texas. This was announced on Wednesday by Lauren Adams, an official representative of the Lubbock city administration.
According to Adams, a patient who had been previously hospitalized with measles passed away on the night of February 26. The age and identity of the deceased have not been disclosed.
According to the Texas Department of Health, the outbreak, which began in late January, has already affected 124 people across nine counties in western Texas. Additionally, nine cases have been recorded in the eastern part of neighboring New Mexico.
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease transmitted through airborne droplets. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a space. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals contract the disease upon exposure to an infected person.
