US measles cases rise to 256 as outbreak spreads

PHOTO CAPTION: An illustration provides a 3D graphical representation of a spherical-shaped, measles virus particle studded with glycoprotein tubercles in this handout image obtained by Reuters April 9, 2019. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Handout via REUTERS

By Bhanvi Satija

(Reuters) -Texas and New Mexico on Tuesday reported an increase of 28 cases of measles in the last five days, bringing the total known infections to 256 in the two states since an outbreak began in late January.

The outbreak, which started in West Texas, caused the first U.S. measles deaths in a decade. It has also proved to be the first major challenge for U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic. 

As of March 11, cases reported in Texas rose to 223 from 198 on March 7 and hospitalizations rose to 29 from 23. 

In Gaines County, the center of the outbreak, infections increased to 156 from 137 as of March 7, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.

In New Mexico, cases rose from 30 to 33 on Tuesday, including one case in Eddy County where none had been reported. The remaining cases were reported in Lea County, adjacent to Gaines County. 

Last week, the state reported that an unvaccinated adult who had died tested positive for measles. Medical examiners were still investigating the case, its first measles-related death.

The Los Angeles County health department said on Tuesday that it has been notified of the first case diagnosed this year in a resident who recently traveled to Taiwan. 

Measles cases in the United States can originate from unvaccinated international travelers as the disease is still common in many countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC told doctors last week the risk for widespread measles in the U.S. was low due to robust immunization, surveillance programs and the country's capacity to respond. 

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most important tool for preventing measles, the CDC said. The health departments of both the affected states said 80 patients in Texas and 27 in New Mexico were unvaccinated. 

As U.S. Health Secretary, Kennedy has said vaccination remains a personal choice. He has also overstated the evidence for use of treatments such as vitamin A, according to disease experts.

 (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija and Sneha S K in Bengaluru; Editing by Pooja Desai, Arun Koyyur and Alan Barona)