The Hill - An outbreak of measles is wreaking havoc in the South Plains region of Texas, where nearly 60 children have been confirmed to be infected. Physicians in the state say the current situation was “inevitable” due to the low rates of vaccination among the largely Mennonite community.
As of Feb. 21, the Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed 90 cases of measles with 16 patients hospitalized. Five of the cases are vaccinated while the rest are not. The department has stated there are likely more measles cases that have yet to be confirmed due to the highly contagious nature of the virus.
The outbreak comes as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a leading vaccine
skeptic, takes over the Department of Health and Human Services,
spurring fears he will further fuel vaccine skepticism, an issue already
politicized by the COVID-19 pandemic.
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