Texas confirms growing measles outbreak affecting school-aged children
Health officials at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) have issued a warning about a measles outbreak affecting school-aged children in Gaines County. According to the report, there have been a total of 10 confirmed cases in the county, with eight of them involving school-aged children, two of whom are under the age of 5. All of the cases were individuals who had not been vaccinated against measles.
The DSHS alert emphasized the highly contagious nature of the disease and expressed concern that additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and surrounding communities. Seven of the confirmed cases have required hospitalization, underscoring the severity of the outbreak.
This surge in measles cases comes more than two decades after the disease was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. Health officials are urging residents to be vigilant and report any suspected cases to their local health department immediately.
Measles is a virus that can spread through direct contact with infected droplets or through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected individual has left the area.
Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles and other preventable diseases. The DSHS advisory stressed the importance of vaccination, particularly for children who are too young to receive the vaccine. These young children are at higher risk of experiencing severe complications if they contract the measles virus.
The report also highlighted the recommendation from the DSHS and the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) for children to receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, with the first dose administered at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. Each dose of the MMR vaccine reduces the risk of infection and lessens the severity of illness if an individual does become infected.
Earlier this year, the Houston Health Department confirmed two cases of measles, marking the first cases in Texas since 2023. Both cases involved unvaccinated adults who had recently traveled internationally. The state issued a health alert in response to these cases, emphasizing the importance of vaccination to prevent the spread of measles.
As the measles outbreak continues to affect communities in Texas, health officials are urging residents to prioritize vaccination and take necessary precautions to protect themselves and others from this highly contagious disease.
