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Los Angeles County health officials announced the death of an infant school-aged resident of a known but uncommon complication from a measles infection contracted in infancy, and encouraged residents to have their families vaccinated against the disease.

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WHY IT’S IMPORTANT

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health stated that the child was initially infected with measles as an infant prior to when they became eligible to be vaccinated against measles, which is commonly recommended to be given between 12 to 15 months of age.

While the child successfully recovered from measles illness initially, he developed and eventually died of subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, or SSPE — a rare, degenerative disease of the brain that may be a delayed complication of measles infection at a young age.

BY THE NUMBERS

SSPE occurs in roughly one out of 10,000 cases of measles, but the risk rises to one in 600 for infants who are infected before they are eligible to be vaccinated, LA County officials say.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported 1,454 confirmed cases of measles in the United States this year, through September 9.

Measles is a very contagious viral illness that brings on such symptoms as fever, cough and rash. It can further result in serious complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.

The United States saw its biggest tally of measles cases since the year 2000 this year, with Texas and New Mexico fueling a spike in January as vaccination rates in children fell.