by Admin Feb 26, 2025 A child in Texas has died from measles, making it the first U.S. fatality from the highly contagious disease in nearly a decade, state health officials confirmed on Wednesday morning. The unvaccinated child was hospitalized in Lubbock health facility last week and tested positive for measles before succumbing to the deadly diseases within 24 hours, according to local authorities. The fatality comes as measles cases increased drastically in parts of western Texas and neighboring New Mexico states, with more than 130 people infected this year, mostly among unvaccinated children. At least 20 people have been hospitalized in Texas, and health workers warn that the outbreak is likely to escalate. Experts have feared that falling vaccination levels could contribute to further outbreaks across the country. The measles resurgence comes at a sensitive time for, as newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, downplays the severity of the outbreak. During a meeting of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Kennedy dismissed concerns, stating, “It’s not unusual. You have measles outbreaks every year.” Kennedy also claimed that two deaths had been reported, though neither Texas nor New Mexico health officials confirmed an additional fatality. His comments have drawn criticism from medical experts, who emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing severe measles complications and deaths. Health professionals stress that the measles vaccine remains one of the most effective tools against the disease. Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, disclosed that the child’s death “should serve as a reminder that there was a reason the vaccine was developed and that it remains invaluable for public health.” Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, where the child was treated, reflected on the resurgence of measles in the United States. She said, “When I graduated from medical school in 2002, I was confident I would never see a measles outbreak unless I chose to work internationally,” she said. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes. The disease is known for its distinct rash but also leads to severe complications, particularly in unvaccinated individuals, infants under 12 months who are not yet eligible for vaccination, and those with weakened immune systems. During outbreaks, about one in five measles patients require hospitalization, and one in 20 develops pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can cause brain swelling and be fatal. The measles vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection, with a single dose providing 93% protection and two doses offering 97% immunity. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans contracted measles annually, leading to hundreds of deaths. The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but outbreaks continue to occur, primarily in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2023, the United States reported that 285 measles cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The largest recent outbreak occurred in 2019, with 1,274 cases, primarily in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jerse,y marking the highest number of cases in decades. With the current outbreak expanding and vaccination rates declining, public health officials are urging families to ensure their children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent further infections and fatalities.
Hamas Returns Four Israeli Hostages’ Bodies in Exchange for Palestinian Prisoners
by Admin Feb 26, 2025 Hamas has handed over what it claims to be the bodies of four Israeli hostages from Gaza in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel. Israeli authorities are currently conducting DNA testing to confirm the identities of the remains, believed to belong to Shlomo Mansour, 86, Ohad Yahalomi, 50, Tsachi Idan, 50, and Itzik Elgarat, 69, all of whom were taken hostage during Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. Early Thursday morning, Israel began the release of over 600 Palestinian prisoners, with dozens returning to the occupied West Bank and Gaza, where they were greeted by celebratory crowds. This marks the final exchange in the first phase of the ongoing ceasefire agreement, which is set to conclude on Saturday. Initial DNA testing of the bodies was expected to take place near the Israel-Gaza border. However, Israeli media later reported that the remains were transported to a forensic facility in Tel Aviv for further examination. This exchange follows a previous incident in which Hamas mistakenly handed over the body of a Palestinian woman instead of that of Israeli hostage Shiri Bibas. The error led to outrage in Israel, after which Hamas later provided bibs’s correct remains Unlike previous handovers, which were public, Hamas transferred the latest bodies privately, without a formal ceremony. Israel has accused Hamas of deliberately staging “humiliating” handover events in past exchanges. Last weekend, Israel temporarily delayed a scheduled prisoner release, citing concerns over the mistreatment of hostages during their return. Prodesq news media gathered a bus transporting Palestinian prisoners from Ofer Prison in the West Bank late Wednesday. The bus later arrived at a checkpoint near the Ramallah Cultural Palace, where large crowds gathered to celebrate. Whereas Additional groups of released prisoners were seen disembarking from buses outside a hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Among those released were more than 400 Gazans detained by Israeli forces during the ongoing conflict, as well as 50 individuals serving life sentences in Israeli prisons. Israel confirmed that prisoners were also being released from the Ketziot facility in southern Israel and Ofer Prison. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run Prisoners’ Media Office reported that a hospital in Gaza was preparing to receive the freed detainees. This latest exchange comes as part of the broader ceasefire negotiations, with uncertainty surrounding whether the deal will be extended beyond its scheduled end on Saturday.
