Measles outbreak in Texas surpasses 100 cases, health officials urging MMR vaccine
Measles cases in Texas have surpassed 100 this week, along with a growing case rate in the neighboring state of New Mexico. This is prompting health departments across the state to encourage vaccination.
The Texas Department of State Health Services reports as of Tuesday there are now 124 cases of measles within the state, stating that "due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities."
Here are the nine counties being impacted by the current outbreak:
- Dallam: 4 cases.
- Dawson: 7 cases.
- Ector: 2 cases
- Gaines: 80 cases.
- Lubbock: 1 case.
- Lynn: 1 case.
- Martin: 3 cases.
- Terry: 21 cases.
- Yoakum: 5 cases.
DSHS reports that 18 patients have been hospitalized, with five cases from vaccinated people.
DSHS further broke the case count down by age groups:
- 0 to 4 year olds: 39 cases.
- 5 to 17 year olds: 62 cases.
- 18 years and older: 18 cases.
- Pending: 5 cases.
This week, the New Mexico Department of Health reported nine cases in Lea County, four of which were from 5-17-year-olds and five of which were from 18-year-olds or older.
DSHS said it is working with local health departments including Lubbock Public Health in Lubbock County, urging individuals to get vaccinated. Lubbock's health department is hosting measles vaccine clinics at 2015 50th Street on the following days and times:
- Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Feb. 26 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- March 1 from 1 – 3 p.m.
- March 2 from 1 - 3 p.m.
What are the symptoms of measles?
According to Boston Children's Hospital, the symptoms of measles are as follows:
- Hacking cough.
- Redness and irritation of the eyes.
- Fever.
- Small red spots with white centers that appear on the inside of the cheek — these usually occur two days before the rash on the skin appears.
- A rash described as deep, red, and flat, starting on the face and spreading down to the trunk, arms and legs; this rash usually begins as small, distinct lesions, which then combine as one big rash.
- Koplick spots — white spots in the mouth
- Runny nose.
- Sore throat.
- Red eyes.
- Body aches.
According to the hospital, it takes between eight and 12 days for children to develop symptoms of measles, but it can be one to two days before the onset of symptoms and three to five days after the rash develops.
How do you contract measles?
The Mayo Clinic states that healthy people can get the virus whenever an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and infectious droplets spray into the air, where other people can breathe them in.
The infected droplets can also survive on surfaces for several hours, and healthy people can contract it when touching an infected surface then putting their fingers in their mouth or nose or rubbing their eyes.
"About 90% of people who haven't had measles or been vaccinated against measles will become infected when exposed to someone with the measles virus," the clinic reports.