Measles outbreak in West Texas update

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak affecting Gaines County and surrounding counties in the South Plains region of west Texas, 10 additional cases have been reported, bringing the outbreak total to 58 within the last three weeks.

Gaines County has reported the most cases with 45, followed by Terry (9), Yoakum (2), Lynn (1) and Lubbock (1).

Image/CDC

Health authorities report thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized. Four of the cases are vaccinated. The rest are unvaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown.

48 of the cases are reported in children 17 years old and younger.

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.

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.