Measles outbreak declared in Lea County as Texas cases continue to increase
(This article was updated to correct an inaccuracy.)
Several states have reported the spread of measles among unvaccinated children and adults, including New Mexico and Texas.
Other states reporting measles cases are Alaska, Georgia, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island, according to Paste BN.
Here's what to know about the measles outbreak in New Mexico.
Measles cases in New Mexico rise
The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) to declare an outbreak on Feb. 14.
NMDOH reported there are now eight confirmed cases of measles confined to Lea County.
Four of those who contracted the virus were adults. Two were unvaccinated and the other two had an unknown vaccination status. The other four were under 18 and unvaccinated the NMDOH told the Sun-News Feb. 19.
The DOH warned New Mexicans of possible exposure if they had visited public spaces ― public libraries, grocery stores, hospitals, churches and schools ― within the last two weeks.
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Texas measles outbreak began in January
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that the number of measles cases had reached 58.
The outbreak began with two cases in Gaines County. The virus has spread to five counties.
- Gaines: 45 cases
- Lubbock: 1 case
- Lynn: 1 case
- Terry: 9 cases
- Yoakum: 2 cases
Most cases are among children who were unvaccinated. Fifteen were among those 4 years old or younger; 33 cases among those between 5and 17 year olds; 5 cases in those 18 or older.
Thirteen hospitalizations were required as a result of the virus.
How do you know if you have measles?
The last major outbreak of measles was in 2019 and resulted in 1,249 cases. In 1992 measles was declared eliminated in the U.S.
Measles manifests within seven to 14 days. Infection includes fever, cough, watery eyes and runny nose in addition to a rash.
Other symptoms include:
- Koplik's spots, tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin
- Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots (the spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body)
- When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees
CONTRIBUTING Janet Loehrke, John Bacon and Jim Sergent.