Measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas

In an update on the measles situation in Gaines County, in West Texas bordering New Mexico, the Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in Gaines County. At this time, 24 cases have been identified with symptom onset within the last two weeks. Nine of the patients have been hospitalized. All of the cases are unvaccinated and residents of Gaines County.

State health officials say additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities due to the contagiousness of the virus.

Image/David Benbennick

Of the 24 cases, 6 are four years or younger, 16 are in children ages 5 to 17 and two are adults.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area. Illness onset (high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes) begins a week or two after someone is exposed. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body. A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People with measles should stay home from work or school during that period.

Peter Hotez: I predict measles outbreaks in Texas could happen as early as the winter or spring of 2018

The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles. Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people.

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