US CDC says vaccination remains best defense against measles after death in Texas

(Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention upheld the role of vaccines in offering protection against measles after an unvaccinated child succumbed to the infection earlier this week.

The U.S. reported on Wednesday its first fatality from the highly contagious disease in a decade. Government data showed a growing outbreak with more than 140 cases reported in Texas since late January.

The child's death and hospitalization of nearly 20 other patients in Texas have put U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s vaccine views to the test.

Kennedy, who founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, has for years sown doubt about the safety and efficacy of immunization. He, however, has denied being "anti-vaccine" and has said he would not prevent Americans from getting vaccinated.

A total of 164 measles cases were reported as of February 27, of which about 95% were from unvaccinated people, while 3% were from people who received only one of the two required shots for immunity, CDC data showed on Friday.

These cases were reported in nine jurisdictions, including Kentucky, marking a near 80% jump from 93 cases reported a week ago.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber and Alan Barona)