BATON ROUGE, La. (WAFB) - An unvaccinated child has died in Texas from measles after a surge in measles cases in the area. As of Monday, Louisiana has had no cases of measles, but with it spreading rapidly through our neighboring state, local health providers are sharing how we can prevent it now.

As cases continue to rise in Texas' largest measles outbreak in 30 years with at least one death reported, some people might wonder how to protect themselves against the virus.

The measles outbreak in Texas has claimed the life of an unvaccinated child, marking the first measles death in the US in a decade. Sen. Bill

Louisiana health officials are monitoring measles cases were reported in neighboring states, but so far, no cases have been reported in Louisiana this year.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, Feb. 20 to officially begin construction on the Red River Credit Union Athletic Complex. "The reintroduction of measles by an unimmunized person has been responsible for the majority of outbreaks in the US during the past few years.”

Some people think of measles as just a little rash and fever that clear up in a few days. But measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years old.

Louisiana’s surgeon general announced late Thursday that the state health department "will no longer promote mass vaccination." Here's what that could mean.

Days after Louisiana’s top health official ordered to an end to mass vaccination efforts and promotions in the state, Louisiana doctors, New Orleans health officials and U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy are defending inoculations as a necessary medical intervention and said the decision comes with some serious risks.