Texas Reports Nearly 160 Measles Cases
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Synopsis
In Texas, nearly 160 cases of measles have been reported, with health officials indicating that the outbreak may continue for several months. Most cases involve unvaccinated children aged 5-17. Preventative vaccination is vital to combat this highly contagious disease.
Key Takeaways
- Texas accounts for nearly 160 measles cases.
- The outbreak could last for several months.
- Most cases are among unvaccinated children.
- First US measles death reported on February 26.
- Vaccination is critical for prevention.
Houston, March 4 (NationPress) Almost 160 cases of measles have been documented in Texas, the second largest state in the US. State health officials have cautioned that this outbreak might persist for several months.
Over the weekend, a dozen new measles cases were confirmed, bringing the cumulative total to 158, as reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
These cases span across nine counties, according to Dr. Jennifer Shuford, the commissioner of the state health department, who spoke during a public health committee meeting in Austin on Monday.
“Given the number of suspected cases currently, we anticipate more confirmed instances in this outbreak,” Shuford stated.
“Historically, outbreaks in the United States over the past decade have lasted for months. Some have been as brief as two and a half months, while the outbreak in New York lasted about ten and a half months,” she added.
The initial two cases were detected in late January, and the numbers have been steadily increasing since then.
All reported cases involve individuals who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status, according to the report. The majority of the cases are among children aged 5 to 17 years.
On February 26, Texas recorded the first measles-related death in the ongoing outbreak, involving a school-aged child who was unvaccinated.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can lead to severe health complications for anyone who lacks immunity to the virus, as reported by Xinhua, citing NBC News.
The virus can spread through direct contact with infectious droplets or via airborne transmission when an infected individual breathes, coughs, or sneezes. Symptoms typically appear within a week or two after exposure.
The most effective way to prevent illness is through immunization with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, primarily delivered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, as per the Texas Department of State Health Services.
