Texas: Measles outbreak continues, Gaines County reports nearly 100 cases

In a follow-up on the Texas measles outbreak in the South Plains region, state health officials now report 146 cases since late January, including 98 cases in the epicenter of Gaines County. Twenty of the patients have been hospitalized.

There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area (Lubbock). The child was not vaccinated.

116 cases were reported in children 17 years of age and younger.

The vaccination status of the confirmed cases are as follows:

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.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported cases in nine jurisdictions— Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas through February 27.