Measles Outbreak in West Texas
Overview
A rapidly spreading measles outbreak in West Texas has surged to 90 confirmed cases as of Friday afternoon, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The outbreak, predominantly affecting unvaccinated children, has witnessed a significant increase of 32 cases since Tuesday’s update, with Gaines County remaining the epicenter, accounting for 57 infections.
Geographical Distribution
Apart from Gaines County, other counties with confirmed cases include Terry (20), Dawson (6), Yoakum (4), Ector (1), Lubbock (1), and Lynn (1).
Age Distribution
As in previous updates, the majority of infections (77) have occurred in children under the age of 18. Ten cases have been reported in individuals over 18, while three cases remain under investigation.
Vaccination Status
Vaccination plays a crucial role in preventing measles. However, only five of the infected individuals had been vaccinated, indicating that the vast majority were unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown.
Hospitalizations
The highly contagious nature of measles has resulted in 16 hospitalizations.
Additional Cases Expected
DSHS warns that due to the outbreak’s contagious nature, additional cases are likely to emerge in the outbreak area and surrounding communities.
National Impact
Beyond Texas, six other states have reported measles infections: Alaska, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Rhode Island. As of Friday, three of these states – New Mexico (9 cases), Georgia (3 cases), and New Jersey (3 cases) – have met the outbreak criteria set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), defined as three or more related cases of illness.
Symptoms and Transmission
Measles is a highly contagious vaccine-preventable disease caused by a virus that primarily affects children. It infects the respiratory tract and spreads throughout the body. Transmission occurs through contact with infected nasal or throat secretions, particularly when inhaling airborne virus from an infected person’s coughing or sneezing. The virus can remain contagious in the air or on surfaces for up to two hours.
History in the United States
Measles was previously eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, but outbreaks continue to occur, often linked to unvaccinated individuals. In 2019, the U.S. experienced its highest number of measles cases in a single year since 1992.
Vaccination Recommendations
The measles vaccine is typically administered in combination with mumps and rubella vaccines (MMR) as part of the recommended childhood vaccination schedule. The first dose is usually given between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6. The vaccine is 97% effective in preventing measles when both doses are received.
Symptoms of Measles
Symptoms of measles appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus and include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Measles rash, which appears three to five days after the onset of other symptoms
