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Mennonites, West Texans at center of measles outbreak choose medical freedom over vaccine mandates

PBS
Summary
Nutrition label

68% Informative

Texas measles outbreak rises to 146 cases spanning more than 9 counties.

The number of those sickened with measles has grown to 146 and a school-age child has died.

Measles is a preventable disease the U.S. considered eliminated in 2000 .

Many Mennonite families don't send children to public schools in public schools.

Dr. Rumbidzai Mutikani , a pediatrician at Nor-Lea Hospital District’s Hobbs Medical Clinic , said parents were so concerned “our phones were just ringing” Dr. Martin Ortega , a family physician for Texas Tech Physicians in Odessa , said doctors on a “shared high alert” In Lea County , New Mexico , nine measles cases with no clear connection to the Texas outbreak rattled doctors and parents.

The reality on the ground can be nuanced.

Most Texans are still vaccinating their kids, including Jennifer Sanchez , a 26-year-old Odessa resident.

She is disinfecting her house out of an abundance of caution.

“The government needs to give us more tools so we can protect ourselves,” she said.

VR Score

76

Informative language

77

Neutral language

63

Article tone

informal

Language

English

Language complexity

45

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

short-lived

External references

no external sources

Source diversity

no sources

Affiliate links

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