The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health reported the death of a school-class child this week, due to a rare complexity from a measles infection that he had experienced as an infant.
In a statement on Thursday, the Health Department said that the child had become infected before being eligible to obtain a measles vaccine. His death was due to the subcutaneous sclering panansflitis (SSPE).
The department described the SSPE as “rare, progressive brain disorders that are late complications of infection from measles virus.” It affects one of the 10,000 people that receive measles, but this rate jumps up to 1 out of 600 for those who receive measles when they are an infant.
“SSPE usually develops after two to ten years after the initial measles infection after the patient is completely cured. It is characterized by a gradual and deteriorating loss of neurological function with death occurring one to three years after the initial diagnosis,” the agency said.
In the light of death, the agency encouraged the houses of Los Angeles County to ensure that all members were preserved against measles.
Children usually receive their first dose of measles vaccine in 12–15 months and their second dose is obtained when they are between four and six years old.
The death was revealed a few weeks after measles outbreak in West Texas. The outbreak of Texas finally confirmed more than 700 cases, causing two deaths of school-age children, which were unnatural and had no inherent conditions.
Los Angeles County Health Officer Muntu Davis said in a statement, “The case gives a painful reminiscent of how dangerous measles can be, especially for members of our weakest community.”
“We all trust all to trust people to vaccinate infants.
