00:00The United States is experiencing a resurgence of diseases that many believe were long gone.
00:06There have been outbreaks of measles, some of which have been fatal, as well as new cases of leprosy.
00:14These outbreaks have triggered health alerts about the impact of low vaccination rates and unequal access to health care.
00:21Our correspondent, Jose Levenia, has more information.
00:25Pennsylvania confirmed two measles-related deaths, marking the first fatalities linked to the disease in the state in 35 years.
00:34Authorities insist that both victims were unvaccinated.
00:37Pennsylvania Department of Health announced the first two measles-associated deaths in Pennsylvania in 35 years.
00:47Both of the individuals were from Lancaster County, and both were unvaccinated.
00:52Concerns over measles are exacerbated by the emergence of new leprosy cases.
00:58Although leprosy is curable and rare, experts note that it persists, especially among vulnerable populations.
01:05It is part of a group called Neglected Tropical Diseases.
01:11These diseases affect populations that are vulnerable and living in difficult and precarious socioeconomic situations.
01:19It's difficult, precarious, precarious.
01:22What is behind this resurgence?
01:23According to experts, it is due to a combination of factors, including declining vaccination coverage, misinformation,
01:30and the challenges vulnerable populations face in accessing medical care.
01:34I think it's several reasons why we are seeing a resurgence in what we call medieval diseases, such as typhus,
01:42which is transmitted by, generally by fleas that come via rats.
01:50Why we're seeing that in the U.S.
01:51And the sad part is, though, this is the richest country in the world.
01:55And as you pointed out, spend more per capita on health care than just about anyone else.
02:01The lack of housing and basic hygiene conditions puts homeless individuals at a higher risk of contracting and spreading infectious
02:09diseases.
02:10Many of these diseases are completely preventable with basic hygiene, but that hygiene is lacking.
02:18So if we have people who have no other place to live, then we should provide the basic facilities so
02:28that they can carry out the activities of living that we all need, drinking water, going to the bathroom, washing
02:36our hands.
02:36But if we don't make that available to them, then it's not surprising that we will have diseases that are
02:43spread through unsafe conditions.
02:48About 3 to 4 percent of people in the United States carry the latent TB, the bacteria that causes TB.
02:59But very few get it, very few get it.
03:03It's like 13 million are estimated to have it, where we have about 10,000 cases a year.
03:10But among people experiencing homelessness, their rate, the chances that they would develop the disease is about 10 to 14
03:22times higher.
03:23And that is because of their weakened immune system.
03:27Beyond the resurgence, experts warn that these diseases reveal persistent gaps in the U.S. health care system.
03:34Experts point out that the resurgence of measles and the occurrence of leprosy cases show that diseases that were believed
03:40to be under control can reappear when preventative measures,
03:44timely access to health care and adequate living conditions are lacking.
03:47In Washington, Jose Lebeña.
