Measles, that old-school plague we thought we’d left in the history books, is making an unwelcome comeback.
Texas and New Mexico are seeing outbreaks, with nearly 100 reported cases—mostly in kids. And the reason?
A growing number of parents are skipping the measles vaccine.
Health experts are frustrated. “This was completely preventable,” says Dr. Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins.
Why? Because the measles vaccine is 97% effective. Yet, in some Texas communities, vaccine exemptions have skyrocketed, leaving kids unprotected.
The consequences aren’t just a few sniffles.
Measles can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, hearing loss, or worse. And for those who do recover?
There’s still the risk of a rare, fatal brain disease years later.
Despite the rising cases, some officials hesitate to push vaccines too hard.
“We respect everyone’s right to choose,” says Albert Pilkington, a Texas hospital CEO.
But with hospitals filling up and outbreaks spreading, is this really just a personal choice anymore?
Texas and New Mexico are now scrambling to vaccinate as many people as possible.
The question is: Will it be enough to stop this outbreak before it gets worse?
