Mar 04, Kathmandu- The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned that the risk of measles in children is increasing since the end of 2023.

About 160 cases of measles have been reported in Texas, the second largest state in the US. State health officials have warned that the outbreak could last for months.

The Texas Department of State Health Services said a dozen measles cases were detected in Texas over the weekend. During a hearing with the Public Health Committee in Austin on Monday, state Health Department Commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford said the cases were spread across nine counties.

“We know that other outbreaks in the United States over the past 10 years have lasted for months. Some have lasted for two and a half months, but New York lasted for 10 and a half months,” Shuford added.

The first two cases were identified in late January and the number has been increasing since then. All cases have been in unvaccinated people. Most cases are in children aged 5 to 17.

Texas reported the first death in the United States from a measles outbreak on February 26. The case was a vaccinated school-age child.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease.