Idaho Vaccine Rates Down As Measles Outbreak Claims Texas Child

A measles outbreak in Texas has claimed the life of one child. Over 130 cases have been confirmed in two states, so should Idaho parents of unvaccinated children be worried?

One confirmed measles fatality has been reported in west Texas in a child described as "school-aged," according to npr.org. It's been reported the youth was not vaccinated against the highly contagious viral disease. Children and adults are equally susceptible to developing the disease.

Measles vaccines can be scheduled through clinics and doctors' offices and are generally covered by insurance companies.

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Measles has spread to close to 140 people varying in age in Texas and New Mexico in recent weeks. Measles is spread through the air and contact with bodily fluids, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. In recent years, school vaccination rates have dropped roughly 5 percent, and Idaho and Colorado are leading the country in lowest measles vaccination rates, according to usnews.com.

Health officials are strongly urging parents to consider protecting at risk children through vaccines. Early symptoms include redness around the eyes, fever, cough, and sore throat, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Symptoms tend to begin a week to two weeks after the initial exposure, according to the CDC.

Measles vaccines can be scheduled through clinics and doctors' offices and are generally covered by insurance companies. For more information on how to get access to measles vaccinations, click here. The CDC recommends getting kids their first vaccine between the ages of 12 and 16 months.