Measles: West Texas outbreak doubles

In a follow-up on the measles outbreak in west Texas, state health officials are now reporting 48 cases that have been identified with symptom onset within the last three weeks in the South Plains region of Texas.

Gaines County accounts for 42 cases, followed by Terry County (3), Yoakum (2) and Lynn County (1).

Thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized. All of the cases are unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown.

42 of the cases are in children 17 years and younger.

Texas health officials say 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 vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.

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