Los Angeles: The state of Texas has reported the first death linked to the ongoing measles outbreak. The victim was a school-aged child who was not vaccinated, according to Xinhua news agency.

The child was hospitalised in Lubbock last week and later tested positive for measles, the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) confirmed.

As of February 25, 124 cases of measles have been confirmed in the South Plains region of Texas, which has been the epicentre of the outbreak since late January.

Most of the cases have involved children. Eighteen people have been hospitalised, with five of them having been vaccinated. The vaccination status of the remaining cases is either unvaccinated or unknown, TDSHS reported.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause life-threatening complications in individuals who are not protected against the virus.

During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who was recently appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services, said two people had died from the outbreak in Texas.

However, health authorities in both Texas and New Mexico have confirmed only one death in Texas. The number of cases in Texas alone now accounts for nearly half of the 285 measles cases confirmed nationwide in 2024.

In addition, nine new cases were reported on Tuesday in eastern New Mexico, near the Texas state line, where the outbreak has spread across approximately 10 counties, Texas health officials added.

Measles can be transmitted through direct contact with infectious droplets or airborne transmission when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear within one to two weeks after exposure.

The most effective way to prevent measles is through immunisation, with two doses of the measles-containing vaccine, which is commonly given as the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. According to TDSHS, two doses of the MMR vaccine prevent over 97% of measles infections.

IANS