Health Journal Online

Tag: measles

  • Virginia’s Measles Outbreak Has Expanded to a Second County as Cases Reach 129

    Virginia’s Measles Outbreak Has Expanded to a Second County as Cases Reach 129

    Virginia’s measles outbreak is no longer confined to one county.

    On June 25, 2026, the Virginia Department of Health announced that the Buckingham County measles outbreak had expanded geographically to include Cumberland County, a directly adjacent rural county in central Virginia’s Piedmont region. Health officials confirmed that new cases in Cumberland County reflect community transmission — meaning the virus is circulating locally, not merely being imported from Buckingham.

    As of the June 25 announcement, the Piedmont Health District, which includes both counties, reported 106 outbreak-associated measles cases. Virginia’s total statewide case count for 2026 stands at 129 — compared to just five confirmed cases in all of 2025.

    Why This Matters

    A measles outbreak that expands from one county to a second in the same Piedmont Health District signals that containment has not held. The expansion to Cumberland County means anyone who lives in, works in, or visits either county is at elevated risk of exposure if they are not fully vaccinated — and the virus can survive in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves a room.

    Piedmont Health District Director Maria Almond said: “As this outbreak expands to Cumberland County, I ask for the community’s help to stop measles from gaining further ground by ensuring you are vaccinated.”

    Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases known. One infected person can spread measles to nine out of ten unprotected people in the same room or space.

    What We Know So Far

    The Buckingham County outbreak was first confirmed by VDH on May 13, 2026. Since then, it has grown to become one of Virginia’s largest measles clusters in modern state history. The outbreak began among individuals in Buckingham County with below-threshold vaccination coverage and has since spread through close-contact networks.

    The VDH measles disease page shows that Virginia is now in the midst of one of the worst measles years in recent memory: 129 confirmed cases in less than six months, compared to five for all of 2025.

    The outbreak has generated exposure sites across the two-county area, including schools, medical facilities, and community gathering places. Every case confirmed in the outbreak involves a person who was either unvaccinated or could not confirm their vaccination status — consistent with the national pattern.

    Cumberland County borders Buckingham to the east and shares the same rural character: dispersed population, limited access to health services, and historically lower vaccination uptake in some communities.

    What VDH Recommends: Specific Vaccination Guidance for the Affected Area

    The Virginia Department of Health has issued outbreak-specific vaccination recommendations that go beyond standard routine guidance for people in or visiting Buckingham and Cumberland Counties:

    • Infants aged 6 to 11 months are advised to receive an early dose of MMR vaccine. This is an outbreak-specific recommendation — routine MMR vaccination does not begin until 12 months. Infants who receive this early dose should still receive two more doses at the recommended ages (12 months and 4–6 years) at least 28 days apart.
    • Children aged 12 months to 18 years who have not yet been vaccinated or have never had measles infection should receive their first MMR dose immediately, with a second dose at least 28 days after the first.
    • Adults who are not up to date on MMR vaccination should contact a health care provider or local health department for vaccination guidance.
    • Residents and visitors of both counties should avoid large gatherings if they are unvaccinated and should consult a health care provider immediately if they develop measles symptoms.

    Where the Risk Is Highest

    Buckingham and Cumberland Counties are in the heart of the Piedmont Health District in central Virginia, approximately 60 miles west of Richmond. Communities in both counties with documented below-threshold vaccination rates face the most immediate risk of continued spread.

    Travel through the area — particularly to or from the Charlottesville metro, Richmond metro, or the Appomattox and Farmville areas — should be considered by people assessing their vaccination status. The VDH maintains a list of specific exposure sites at vdh.virginia.gov/measles.

    Statewide, Virginia’s 129 total cases in 2026 make this the state’s largest measles year in decades. All confirmed cases have been in unvaccinated or unverified individuals.

    What Doctors and Experts Say

    Dr. Brannon Traxler, Virginia’s deputy state health director, described measles containment as a race between vaccination and transmission. The expansion to Cumberland County indicates that race is still ongoing.

    Pediatricians in the affected area have been on heightened alert for potential measles cases since May. The VDH issued guidance to area clinicians to maintain high suspicion for measles in unvaccinated patients presenting with fever and rash, and to contact the health department and isolate potential cases immediately before laboratory confirmation.

    The early MMR dose recommendation for infants aged 6 to 11 months is a significant step — the CDC typically reserves early dosing recommendations for situations where the outbreak risk is high enough to warrant protecting babies before the standard schedule begins.

    Who Faces the Greatest Risk?

    • Unvaccinated residents of Buckingham and Cumberland Counties
    • Children under 12 months who cannot yet receive standard MMR vaccination
    • People traveling through the area who are unvaccinated or have only one documented MMR dose
    • Anyone whose vaccination history is uncertain — particularly adults born between 1957 and 1989, who may have received only one dose before two-dose schedules became standard

    Symptoms and Warning Signs to Watch For

    Measles symptoms appear 7 to 14 days after exposure and progress in a predictable pattern:

    • High fever (often above 104°F)
    • Cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes
    • Small white spots inside the cheeks (Koplik spots — an early, distinctive sign)
    • A red blotchy rash beginning on the face and spreading downward, appearing 3 to 5 days after initial symptoms

    Infected people are contagious from four days before the rash appears through four days after. If you develop these symptoms, do not go to a medical facility without calling ahead — notify them of your possible measles exposure so they can prepare isolation protocols.

    What You Can Do Now

    • If you live in or plan to visit Buckingham or Cumberland Counties, confirm your MMR vaccination status and your children’s vaccination records.
    • Infants 6 to 11 months old in or visiting the outbreak area should receive an early MMR dose — discuss this with your pediatrician now.
    • If you are unsure whether you have had two MMR doses, contact your physician, local health department, or the VDH Record Request Portal.
    • Report symptoms consistent with measles — fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and rash — to your health care provider before seeking in-person care.
    • Residents can email questions to the Virginia Department of Health at epi_response@vdh.virginia.gov or contact their local health department.

    Cost and Access: What Patients Should Know

    MMR vaccine is covered at no cost under the ACA preventive services mandate for insured patients. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program covers MMR for eligible uninsured children. Virginia health departments are providing MMR vaccination at no cost to area residents during the outbreak. Contact the Piedmont Health District for information on local vaccination clinics.

    What Happens Next

    The VDH is continuing contact tracing, case investigation, and targeted vaccination outreach in both counties. The outbreak will be declared resolved after 42 consecutive days with no new outbreak-related cases. MedicalDaily will report on any further geographic expansion and on case count updates as they are released.

    The Bottom Line

    Virginia’s measles outbreak has crossed into a second county, with 106 confirmed outbreak-associated cases and 129 statewide in 2026. Vaccination is the only tool that stops this spread. The VDH has issued specific outbreak guidance for infants as young as 6 months in the affected area — an unusually early recommendation that reflects the seriousness of the current risk. Confirm your vaccination status and your children’s MMR records now, before a potential exposure occurs.

    Source link

  • Virginia Records Highest Measles Count on Record While Major World Cup Gateway Links to Mexico’s Growing Outbreak

    Virginia Records Highest Measles Count on Record While Major World Cup Gateway Links to Mexico’s Growing Outbreak

    A detail buried in the Virginia Department of Health’s June 3, 2026, clinical advisory for healthcare providers deserves much wider attention than it has received: Virginia has seen a record number of measles cases this year, with 77 reported cases as of June 2, 2026.

    That figure — 77 confirmed cases by the first week of June — establishes Virginia as a measles hot zone that is directly relevant to the World Cup’s public health trajectory for one specific and overlooked reason: Washington Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia is the federally designated enhanced screening point for all U.S. citizens and nationals who have been present in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, or South Sudan within 21 days of U.S. arrival. Every traveler routed through Dulles for Ebola screening is moving through a state that currently has 77 active measles cases — the record annual total in the state’s modern surveillance history.

    The VDH advisory also notes that “many [World Cup fans] are likely to travel through international airports in northern Virginia” — capturing the second dimension of Virginia’s World Cup health relevance. Dulles is among the top 10 busiest international airports in the United States and serves as a major gateway for European, Latin American, and African travelers bound for East Coast World Cup venues, including Philadelphia (the closest host city, with matches June 14 through July 4) and the New York/New Jersey area (MetLife Stadium, including the July 19 Final).

    Fans arriving at Dulles from Mexico (10,920 cases), Guatemala (6,209 cases), or other measles-active countries, then connecting to domestic flights to Philadelphia or New York, are moving through one of the country’s most active measles states at a peak transmission moment.

    Virginia’s 77-Case Record in Context

    Virginia’s 77-case record requires context to fully appreciate its significance. The state was not previously considered a high-measles-burden jurisdiction — it was among the states with strong school vaccination compliance and relatively few exemptions. The appearance of 77 confirmed cases as of June 2, 2026, represents a significant outbreak driven primarily by vaccine hesitancy in specific community clusters, with the pattern seen in the VDH advisory consistent with the national picture: most cases occurring in unvaccinated or under-vaccinated individuals, with outbreak chains anchored in communities with lower-than-average MMR coverage.

    The national context as of the CDC’s latest dashboard: 1,983 confirmed measles cases across 40 U.S. jurisdictions as of May 28, 2026, with 30 active outbreaks and 93% of cases linked to ongoing outbreak chains. Virginia’s 77 cases place it above Pennsylvania (5 cases through early February) and most Northeast states, but below the outbreak epicenters of South Carolina, Utah, and Texas. The combination of a record state outbreak AND a major international gateway airport AND proximity to two World Cup host cities creates a public health exposure matrix that the VDH clinical letter addresses directly, urging providers to be alert for travel-related illnesses in patients with any connection to World Cup events, the U.S. Semiquincentennial celebrations planned for Washington D.C. this summer, or other large summer gatherings.

    The Dulles Ebola Screening Pathway — and the Measles Irony

    The designation of Dulles as the mandatory arrival airport for enhanced Ebola screening creates an unintended epidemiological dynamic that public health researchers have quietly flagged. The logic of the Dulles screening designation is sound: it concentrates enhanced health screening at a single, well-resourced airport rather than distributing it thinly across multiple airports with variable capability. But every traveler routed through Dulles for Ebola screening — who, under the current Bundibugyo outbreak’s transmission biology, is overwhelmingly unlikely to be infected — passes through a terminal environment in a state with 77 active measles cases, potentially sharing air space with other travelers who may be in the pre-rash, contagious phase of measles infection.

    The scientific irony is measurable: the disease being screened for at Dulles (Ebola) requires direct contact with blood or body fluids of a symptomatic person to transmit and kills roughly 1 in 3 of those infected. The disease circulating in the state surrounding Dulles (measles) transmits through the air, persists in enclosed spaces for two hours, and was present in 77 confirmed Virginians as of June 2. Ebola’s R0 is approximately 2. Measles’s R0 is 12 to 18. As Dr. Krutika Kuppalli wrote in STAT News: “Infectious disease threats during the World Cup will almost certainly look much more familiar than frightening headlines suggest.” Virginia’s 77-case record makes that observation locally specific and quantitatively concrete.

    What Virginia Residents and Dulles Travelers Must Know

    The VDH’s directive to clinicians operating near Dulles and across the state is direct: ask patients about travel history and World Cup event attendance; maintain high suspicion for measles in unvaccinated patients with fever and rash; report suspected cases immediately. For travelers transiting Dulles: the airport’s connection to international routes from measles-active countries, combined with Virginia’s active community outbreak, makes it one of the higher-risk indoor air environments for measles exposure in the country right now. Any traveler who cannot document two doses of MMR vaccine should receive vaccination before travel, as PAHO specifically recommends a single dose at least two weeks before traveling to areas with documented transmission.

    For residents of the Washington D.C. metro area planning to travel to World Cup matches in Philadelphia — the closest host city at roughly 140 miles — verify MMR vaccination status, ensure any children over 12 months have had at least one dose, and consider that the train corridors connecting Northern Virginia, Washington, and Philadelphia pass through and between multiple states with active measles cases. The public health advice has not changed since the PAHO emergency alert: travelers aged six months and older who cannot provide proof of two MMR doses should receive vaccination, preferably at least two weeks before attending any World Cup event or traveling to areas with active transmission. At this moment, Virginia is one of those areas.

    Source link

  • Texas Lawmakers Look to Make Child Vaccine Exemptions Easier for Parents as Measles Outbreak Continues

    Texas Lawmakers Look to Make Child Vaccine Exemptions Easier for Parents as Measles Outbreak Continues

    Texas lawmakers have approved a bill to simplify the vaccine exemption process for schoolchildren—just as the state contends with its worst measles outbreak in decades.

    On Sunday, the Texas Senate passed House Bill 1586 in a 23-9 vote. The legislation, authored by Rep. Lacey Hull, doesn’t alter the state’s vaccine schedule but makes it easier for parents to opt out by allowing them to download exemption forms online rather than requesting them through the mail, as reported by the Texas Tribune.

    Since 2003, Texas law has allowed parents to claim vaccine exemptions for their children based on medical, religious, or conscientious grounds. Over the years, demand for exemptions has surged, doubling from 45,900 in 2018 to over 93,000 in 2024.

    The move to make vaccine exemptions easier comes as the state is currently experiencing a major measles outbreak, with 729 cases reported since January and two confirmed child deaths.

    Supporters, including groups like Texans for Vaccine Choice, hailed the bill as a win for parental rights and government efficiency. Meanwhile critics, including public health advocates and The Immunization Partnership, warn the bill will lead to a drop in vaccination rates and a rise in preventable diseases. They argue that easier access to exemptions will compound current health risks, especially as the state grapples with an ongoing measles crisis.

    Gov. Greg Abbott now has the final say on whether the bill becomes law.

    Originally published on Latin Times

    Source link

  • Anti-Vaxx Mom Whose Daughter Died From Measles Says Disease ‘Wasn’t That Bad’

    Anti-Vaxx Mom Whose Daughter Died From Measles Says Disease ‘Wasn’t That Bad’

    The parents of an unvaccinated Texas child who died from measles appeared in a video formulated by an anti-vaccine advocacy group where they railed against vaccines, even saying the disease “wasn’t that bad.’

    A 6-year-old Texan died after contracting measles last month, marking the first death of a child in the U.S. caused by the highly contagious illness in nearly a decade.

    Following her death, the anti-vaccine advocacy group Children’s Health Defense met with the child’s parents, whose four other children also suffered from milder cases of the same illness, as reported by Mother Jones.

    During the interview, the young couple doubled down on their decision not to vaccinate their child even after her death. Hailing from the Mennonite community, they argued that if measles patients had access to untested treatments, the MMR vaccines would be entirely unnecessary.

    “We spent the morning at Dr. Ben Edwards’ clinic, and the parents are all still sitting there saying they would rather have this than the MMR vaccination because they’ve seen so much injury, which we have as well,” journalist Polly Tommey said while interviewing the couple. “Do you still feel the same way about the MMR vaccine versus measles and the proper treatment with Dr. Ben Edwards?”

    “Absolutely [do] not take the MMR [vaccine],” said the mother. “The measles wasn’t that bad. [The other children] got over it pretty quickly. And Dr. Edwards was there for us.”

    The parents described the symptoms of the illness their child exhibited, beginning with a fever, respiratory symptoms and the notorious rash that often accompanies it. However, days after contracting the illness, the child’s fever continued and respiratory symptoms worsened as she began struggling to breathe.

    The girl’s parents took her to a hospital emergency room where she was admitted and diagnosed with pneumonia. After being placed on a ventilator in the Intensive Care Unit, the child passed away.

    The measles outbreak in Texas has spurred many public and political figures to take to their platforms and encourage residents to get vaccinated and vaccinate their children. This includes Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who previously promoted anti-vaccine views.

    RFK Jr. published an op-ed in Fox Digital earlier this month acknowledging that the decision to vaccinate is a “personal one”, but encouraging people to vaccinate to mitigate the spread of the disease regardless.

    “Vaccines not only protect individual children from measles, but also contribute to community immunity, protecting those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons,” he wrote earlier this month.

    Originally published by Latin Times.

    Source link

  • ‘Measles Parties’ A Deadly Gamble, Officials Warn—Get Vaccinated

    ‘Measles Parties’ A Deadly Gamble, Officials Warn—Get Vaccinated

    As measles cases surge in Texas, health officials are raising alarms over a troubling trend: parents intentionally exposing their children to the virus in so-called “measles parties” hoping to build natural immunity. While some believe this approach mimics the immunity gained from past infections, experts warn it’s a dangerous gamble that could have fatal consequences.

    Measles parties are inspired by the chickenpox gatherings of the 1970s, where unvaccinated children were deliberately exposed to the virus in hopes of developing immunity at a young age when the illness was considered milder. However, experts warn that this approach is far more dangerous when it comes to the measles virus.

    Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, calls measles parties “a foolish thing,” as the virus is highly unpredictable, and there is no way to determine how severe an infection will be.

    “We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized, and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this. It is just too risky … we don’t get to pick and choose who is going to do well and not do well when you become severely ill. Please don’t do that, it’s just foolishness, it’s playing roulette,” Dr Cook said in a press conference.

    Around 30% of children who contract measles may develop complications, and the infection can lead to long-term health consequences, he warned.

    “There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles,” Dr. Cook added.

    Texas health officials also warn that intentionally exposing children to the measles virus does not just put them at risk, it endangers other unvaccinated individuals and those with weakened immune systems, increasing the potential for severe complications and outbreaks.

    The safest way to protect against measles is to get vaccinated. Receiving two doses of the MMR vaccine provides 97% protection against measles, significantly reducing the risk of infection and severe complications. Without immunity, nearly everyone exposed to measles will contract it, and once infected, there is no specific treatment to cure the disease.

    Source link

  • RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Measles Treatments Amid Surge; Experts Urge Vaccination

    RFK Jr. Pushes Unproven Measles Treatments Amid Surge; Experts Urge Vaccination

    As measles cases spike in Texas, affecting 159 people, hospitalizing 22, and claiming the life of a school-aged child, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. expressed “deep concern” about the outbreak while promoting an unconventional treatment protocol.

    “As the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I am deeply concerned about the recent measles outbreak,” Kennedy Jr. said in a statement.

    In a Fox News interview, Kennedy Jr. praised measles treatment using vitamin A, the steroid budesonide, the antibiotic clarithromycin, and cod liver oil, claiming they yield “good results.” However, health experts warn that it should not replace vaccination and caution against relying on it entirely.

    Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It starts with fever, cough, and red, watery eyes before a telltale rash appears. While most cases resolve on their own, complications like pneumonia, blindness, and brain inflammation can be severe, especially for unvaccinated individuals.

    Kennedy Jr. acknowledged that vaccines not only protect individual children from measles but also contribute to community immunity, safeguarding those who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons. However, in an opinion piece on Fox Nation, Kennedy Jr. said the decision to vaccinate kids will be a personal choice. Meanwhile, he emphasized the importance of good nutrition and the consumption of vitamins such as A, B12, C, D, and E as the “best defense against” chronic and infectious illnesses.

    He also pointed to a 2010 study showing that two doses of vitamin A treatment reduced measles mortality by 62%. The same study found that the measles vaccine is highly effective, with one dose preventing 85–95% of cases and two doses up to 98%.

    Since vaccines remain the only proven way to prevent outbreaks, some doctors worry that promoting unconventional therapies during a surge could undermine vaccination efforts and fuel misinformation online.

    The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reaffirmed last week that vaccination remains the strongest defense against measles, as no specific antiviral treatment exists. However, the agency acknowledged that supportive care, including vitamin A administration under the guidance of a physician may help in managing the infection.

    “Relying on vitamin A instead of the vaccine is not only dangerous and ineffective, but it puts children at serious risk,” Dr. Sue Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, told The Washington Post.

    Experts like Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security believes that supplementation with vitamin A helps in cases where there are deficiencies but it “really doesn’t have much of a role in the current discussion on the West Texas measles epidemic because it becomes a distraction about what we really need to focus on, which is vaccinating our kids.”

    Source link

  • Health Officials Beg Texas Families Not to Attend ‘Measles Parties’ As Push to Get Kids Vaccinated Continues

    Health Officials Beg Texas Families Not to Attend ‘Measles Parties’ As Push to Get Kids Vaccinated Continues

    Texas health officials have pleaded with families residing within the state, urging them to avoid attending “measles parties” and ensure that their children are vaccinated in the wake of a severe measles outbreak that has already killed one child.

    “Measles parties” refer to gatherings in which attendees deliberately expose themselves to the illness within a controlled environment in order to build natural immunity instead of obtaining a vaccine, reported Dallas News.

    “It’s not good to go have measles parties … let me discourage you from doing this,” Dr. Ron Cook, chief health officer for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, said during a Friday press briefing. “We can’t predict who is going to do poorly with measles, be hospitalized and potentially get pneumonia or encephalitis and or pass away from this.”

    Prior to the invention of the chicken pox vaccine in 1995, people would attend “chicken pox parties” for the same reasons, resulting in the rapid spreading of the illness. Measles is among the most contagious viruses globally and can severely impact those who are not vaccinated.

    As of Monday, there are nearly 150 cases of the illness in the state, according to the Texas Department of Health Services, with one unvaccinated child dying from the illness last month.

    “There are severe outcomes like pneumonia or death. There is encephalitis or inflammation of the brain. Even more rare, but it can happen … years down the road after you develop measles, you can get what is called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, which is fatal. It is a known side effect of having measles,” Cook continued.

    Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has also encouraged people to get the measles vaccine following news of the outbreak, despite previously stating that the outbreak was “not unusual” during President Donald Trump’s first Cabinet meeting.

    “Ending the measles outbreak is a top priority for me and my extraordinary team,” Kennedy said in a post on X.

    Originally published by Latin Times.

    Source link

  • Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles is ripping through Gaines County, Texas—cases have more than tripled, and health officials warn the worst is yet to come. The highly contagious virus is spreading fast, with more infections “likely” in the days ahead.

    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 48 cases as of this week, up from just 14 last Friday.

    “Thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized,” the agency stated in a press release. All of the cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

    “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles,” DSHS advised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection.

    Health officials attribute the outbreak to low vaccination rates. Only 82% of kindergartners in Gaines County public schools are up to date on their shots, well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The county also has an 18% exemption rate for vaccines due to religious or personal beliefs.

    “We’re trying to get out the message about how important vaccination is,” Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District told CNN. He stressed those exposed or symptomatic should get tested at the mobile screening unit in Seminole, Texas.

    “Measles is a serious yet preventable disease,” added Dr. Jamie Felberg of the South Plains Public Health District. “Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community.”

    “Additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities,” DSHS warned.

    Originally published on Latin Times

    Source link

  • Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles Outbreak in Texas County With Low Vaccination Rate Multiplies, More Cases ‘Likely’

    Measles is ripping through Gaines County, Texas—cases have more than tripled, and health officials warn the worst is yet to come. The highly contagious virus is spreading fast, with more infections “likely” in the days ahead.

    The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed 48 cases as of this week, up from just 14 last Friday.

    “Thirteen of the patients have been hospitalized,” the agency stated in a press release. All of the cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

    “The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles,” DSHS advised. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection.

    Health officials attribute the outbreak to low vaccination rates. Only 82% of kindergartners in Gaines County public schools are up to date on their shots, well below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity. The county also has an 18% exemption rate for vaccines due to religious or personal beliefs.

    “We’re trying to get out the message about how important vaccination is,” Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District told CNN. He stressed those exposed or symptomatic should get tested at the mobile screening unit in Seminole, Texas.

    “Measles is a serious yet preventable disease,” added Dr. Jamie Felberg of the South Plains Public Health District. “Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community.”

    “Additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities,” DSHS warned.

    Source link