The measles outbreak in Texas, US has reported the death of one child, the first reported fatality from the disease in the United States in almost a decade. The child from West Texas died in a hospital after contracting measles and was unvaccinated. The outbreak, which began late February, has now reached more than 160 reported cases in nine rural West Texas counties, the largest in the state in almost 30 years. Some cases have also been reported in eastern New Mexico, including four in children.

The fact that the infections are concentrated in certain communities, specifically among the Mennonite community, has caused alarm over the low vaccination rates being responsible for spreading the disease at such a rapid rate.

The Governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, has offered his condolences to the deceased child's family but assured the public that state health officials, epidemiologists, and immunization teams are working diligently to control the outbreak. The Texas Department of State Health Services and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have been tracking the cases closely, offering technical support, laboratory capacity, and vaccine supplies to the involved areas.

Role of Declining Vaccination Rates

Declining vaccination coverage is one of the major reasons for the comeback of measles in the U.S. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, vaccination coverage has fallen below the 95% level necessary to sustain herd immunity in most states. Texas has witnessed a growing number of school-aged children avoiding vaccinations. Gaines County, which has the largest number of cases, has the second-highest opt-out rate in the state and has nearly 14% of its K-12 students forgoing at least one mandated vaccine during the 2023-24 school year.

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is very effective at preventing measles, but vaccine hesitancy and misinformation have led to decreased immunization coverage. The American Academy of Pediatrics has reaffirmed that the vast majority of children who get measles are either unvaccinated or not old enough to have received the vaccine, emphasizing the urgent need for public health measures.

What are the Possible Complications of Measles?

Measles is a highly infectious respiratory virus transmitted by airborne route. The virus remains active in the air for a maximum of two hours, and a patient can infect 9 out of 10 unvaccinated individuals within close contact. Symptoms are usually high fever, cough, watery eyes, and a rash, but the disease can result in serious complications like pneumonia, neurological damage, blindness, brain swelling, and even death.

In pregnant women and young children, the risks are even higher. Infection from measles can lead to stillbirth, premature birth, or serious developmental problems in infants. Moreover, the survivors can develop an extremely rare and fatal brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE) years later.

State and federal health authorities are strengthening efforts to contain the outbreak. The CDC is supporting local health jurisdictions with vaccines, lab diagnostics, and technical assistance. At the same time, the Texas Department of State Health Services is performing contact tracing and educational outreach to promote vaccination, especially among under-immunized populations.

Public health officials are also calling on policymakers to strengthen immunization requirements for schoolchildren. Although the MMR vaccine is mandatory for admission to public schools, private religious schools and homeschooling groups tend to have fewer restrictions, raising the threat of outbreaks in these populations.

How to Protect Your Children During Measles Outbreak?

The most crucial thing you can do is ensure that all children and adults in your home are current on their recommended vaccinations — all of them.

Since measles is so contagious, it's also critical for parents to take precautions with children who are too young to be vaccinated or who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.

If you reside in or are traveling to a region where several cases of measles have been reported in the recent past, it's crucial to minimize your vulnerable child's contact with other individuals and public places where infected individuals may have been.

Between outbreaks, it's okay to make routine errands with your baby — just remember to take the usual precautions to prevent your child from getting ill: Don't let strangers hold or play with your baby; avoid letting your child near anyone with a fever, cough, or other respiratory illness; and have you and your household members wash your hands frequently.

The recent outbreak of measles in Texas is a stark reminder of how precarious public health gains are when vaccination coverage falters. The disease was recognized as eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but gaps in immunization coverage have enabled it to reemerge, and it represents a very real threat to susceptible populations.

RFK Jr ousted all 17 experts from the vaccine advisory panel. As a counter, all the 17 experts have published a joint essay criticizing the US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr. for making abrupt and "destabilizing decisions". They said that this could jeopardize the nation's immunization strategy and increase the risk of preventable disease outbreaks.

The former panelists, ousted last week, voiced their concerns in an article published Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). Their essay warns that Kennedy's actions—including disbanding the existing panel, dismissing long-serving CDC staff, and appointing controversial new members—could have serious consequences for public health.

“We are deeply concerned that these destabilizing decisions, made without clear rationale, may roll back the achievements of U.S. immunization policy, impact people’s access to lifesaving vaccines, and ultimately put U.S. families at risk of dangerous and preventable illnesses,” the authors wrote.

A Sudden Shift In Key Advisory Panel

It was only last week when Kennedy announced the "retirement" of the entire panel. This was the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the panel responsible for shaping U.S. vaccine policy. He also removed Dr. Melinda Wharton, a senior Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official who coordinated the committee’s meetings.

Just two days after dissolving the panel, Kennedy appointed eight new members. Among them are a scientist critical of COVID-19 vaccines, a vocal opponent of pandemic lockdowns, and a member of an organization widely labeled as a key source of vaccine misinformation.

The new committee is scheduled to meet next week, though no agenda has been made public. A federal notice indicated that votes are expected on recommendations for vaccines against influenza, COVID-19, HPV, RSV, and meningococcal bacteria.

CDC Departures Raise Alarm

In addition to Wharton’s removal, several key CDC immunization staffers have either been reassigned or have resigned. Notably, Dr. Lakshmi Panagiotakopoulos left the agency earlier this month after 12 years, informing members of a COVID-19 vaccine workgroup of her decision.

Her resignation came after Kennedy revoked CDC’s recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for healthy children and pregnant women—without consulting the advisory panel.

“My career in public health and vaccinology started with a deep-seated desire to help the most vulnerable members of our population, and that is not something I am able to continue doing in this role,” she wrote in a message viewed by the Associated Press.

The former ACIP members emphasized that the loss of experienced CDC staff would hinder the new advisers’ ability to make evidence-based recommendations swiftly and effectively.

Kennedy’s Criticisms and Questions of Credibility

A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declined to address the essay directly but referred to Kennedy’s previous comments accusing the advisory committee of being too close to vaccine manufacturers and rubber-stamping recommendations.

Kennedy, who long voiced anti-vaccine sentiments before being appointed as health secretary, has questioned the integrity of the ACIP’s review process. Though committee members are required to disclose ties to vaccine companies and recuse themselves in cases of conflict of interest, Kennedy has dismissed these safeguards as inadequate.

Founded in 1964, the ACIP provides guidance to the CDC director on how FDA-approved vaccines should be administered. Its recommendations are widely followed by medical professionals and underpin the nation’s immunization programs.

The abrupt dismissal of the entire panel, according to the former members, not only disrupts a well-established public health process but also undermines trust and efficiency at a time when evidence-based decision-making is critical.

US health officials are raising serious concerns about 'Gas Station Heroin', a substance called tianeptine. This has opioid-like-effects and the availability and accessibility is only increasing.

It is also sold as over-the-counter supplements at gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience store. The drug is also marketed as Zaza, Tianaa, Pegasus, and TD Red.

Though used as an antidepressant in some other countries, tianeptine is not approved for medical use in the United States. Experts warn that its effects can mimic those of opioids, including addiction and withdrawal symptoms, even though it is not officially classified as one.

What Is Tianeptine?

A 2023 study published in journal Pain and Therapy, notes: "Tianeptine is an antidepressant drug approved for the treatment of major depressive disorder in countries other than the US. It is classified as an atypical tricyclic antidepressant and has shown potential benefits in addressing anxiety and irritable bowel disease. However, it is important to note that tianeptine is not approved for any use by the United States Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Despite its lack of approval by the FDA, tianeptine has been distributed online and at small retail locations."

The term “gas station drugs” refers to a wide range of substances typically available for purchase from gas stations, corner stores, bodegas, mini marts, smoke shops, and the Internet. These substances may be produced commercially by drug manufacturers or in clandestine laboratories to mimic the effects of more well-known illicit/controlled substances such as marijuana, cocaine, opioids, etc.

The study also notes that misuse of tianeptine can lead to euphoric, opioid-like highs with the potential for chronic users to develop dependence and tolerance. Overdose and use in suicide attempts have also been documented.

Its popularity stems from its ability to bind to the same brain receptors as opioids, which can create feelings of euphoria, calmness, and even pain relief. “It’s kind of this grey area of consumer products, or supplements, where the contents are not regulated or tested the way they would be with a medication,” explained Dr. Diane Calello of the New Jersey Poison Information and Education System. “You never quite know what’s in that bottle.”

FDA Warns Against Its Easy Accessibility

In response to rising reports of adverse effects, the FDA issued a formal warning last month, calling tianeptine "a dangerous and growing health trend." The agency urged retailers to stop selling these products and asked consumers to avoid purchasing or using them altogether.

Poison control centers have seen a sharp rise in tianeptine-related incidents. The FDA noted that many of these cases involve young people, and the symptoms often require emergency medical attention. Reported side effects include seizures, low blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, and mental distress. In a review of 20 recent cases, more than half of the patients had to be admitted to intensive care units.

The Alabama Case Study

The state of Alabama serves as a stark example of the risks associated with tianeptine. Between 2018 and 2021, poison control calls related to the drug spiked by over 1,400%. However, after the state imposed strict regulations and bans, the number of such incidents saw a notable decline. This indicates that legal restrictions can play a significant role in curbing misuse.

Health professionals are urging federal and state authorities to take faster and stronger action before tianeptine use becomes a full-blown public health crisis. Some compare the current trajectory of the drug to the early days of the opioid epidemic, which caught the country off guard and led to long-term consequences.

A dangerous airborne fungus that has the potential to rot human tissue from the inside is spreading at a considerably increasing rate across the United States. It has prompted concerns among the medical professionals and public health authorities. Aspergillus fumigatus. This is said to be the culprit behind this surge and poses a risk to especially those whose immune system had been compromised. The cases are becoming harder to treat due to widespread drug resistance and climate-linked proliferation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified Aspergillus fumigatus as a “critical priority” due to its high mortality rate and growing resistance to existing treatments.

Silent Invader

It is called a silent invader for a reason. Once you inhale, the fungus can cause aspergillosis. This is a serious lung infection. The spores are microscopic, which mean hat people can breathe them in unknowingly. For patients who are already vulnerable medically, for instance, those battling cancer, asthma, HIV or recovering from organ transplants, the infection can lead to chronic lung disease, systemic organ failure, or even death. If invasive, it can also spread to your brain, hear, and kidneys.

Despite its potentially fatal consequences, aspergillosis is not classified as a reportable disease in the United States. This means infections are not systematically tracked, leaving health officials with limited data and making it harder to trace or contain outbreaks.

Infections On The Rise

Between 2000 to 2013, hospitalizations have increased in the case of invasive aspergillosis in the US. The rate is reported by a 3% increased, annually. In 2014, the infection led to 15,000 hospital stays, with a cost up to $1.2 billion.

As the US News notes, postmortem examinations in intensive care units suggest that aspergillosis is among the top four infections most likely to be fatal.

While about 400,000 Americans may be living with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis — the long-term form of the disease — invasive cases, though less frequent, are significantly deadlier. Survival rates drop sharply: just 59% of organ transplant patients and only 25% of stem cell transplant patients live beyond a year after infection.

What Is Causing Its Spread?

The fungus thrives in hot, damp, and humid environment. They can also endure up to 120 degree Fahrenheit. This is especially true in compost or agricultural waste. States like Florida, Texas, Georgia, Louisiana, and California — with their humid climates and farming activity — are seeing some of the highest exposure levels. Cities such as New York, Houston, and Los Angeles are also at risk due to overcrowding, aging buildings, and limited ventilation.

According to a University of Manchester study, if fossil fuel use continues at current levels, Aspergillus fumigatus could expand its range by over 75% by 2100 — putting millions more at risk across the southern US.

What is making it even more difficult to control is the increasing drug resistance. Azole drugs — commonly used to treat human fungal infections — are also applied to protect crops. This dual-use, experts say, may be fueling cross-environmental resistance, with drug-resistant spores jumping from soil to humans.

A study published in Applied and Environmental Microbiology found resistant fungal strains in agricultural soil across at least seven US states. Some strains are resistant to multiple standard antifungals, making treatment increasingly difficult.

WHO has also urged pharmaceutical companies to invest in new antifungals, including children in drug trials, and enhance diagnostic and treatment protocols globally.

Preventive Measures

As of now, doctors recommend to avoid contact with soil, mold, and gardening. It is important to wear protective masks when in dusty areas, and ensure good air filtration at home.