Robert Bednarczyk, a professor of global health at Emory University, warns that measles can find and infect the most vulnerable people in a population.

Robert Bednarczyk, a professor of global health at Emory University, warns that measles can find and infect the most vulnerable people in a population.

A rapidly spreading outbreak of measles in Texas has killed two people, US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr said on Wednesday. They are the first mortalities from measles in the US in nearly a decade.

The Alabama Department of Public Health has encouraged parents to make sure their child receives the Measles vaccine after rising rates in Texas and Georgia, and the first measles death

Cases of measles have been already reported in Georgia and in eight other states, including a case in Texas that led to only known death. Symptoms of measles start with cough and fever followed by skin rash.

The U.S. is dealing with a measles outbreak, including one in New Jersey and new cases in New York City. See what the measles look like here.

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

The CDC has deployed a team of epidemiologists to West Texas as the state battles a growing measles outbreak, according to an agency post on X. Since late January, 159 cases have been reported in the South Plains region of the state,

There have been nine cases of measles reported by the New Mexico Department of Health. The cases come following an outbreak in Lea County. The county is close to Gaines County, Texas, which is the area at the center of the Lone Star State’s outbreak.

Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 but has since made a comeback which experts attribute to international travel and the rise of anti-vaccine sentiment. It remains to be seen whether the ongoing outbreaks will die out or continue to spread.