The number of measles cases has risen to 124 in West Texas and Lubbock Health Officials have confirmed the death of an unvaccinated school-aged child at a Lubbock hospital.
For the first time in the United States since 2015, a death attributed to measles has been reported.
The Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported the total number of cases as of Tuesday. The outbreak of measles is the largest it has been in 30 years.
As of Feb. 25, the HSHS has reported cases in Dallam County with four case, Dawson County with seven; Ector County with two, Gaines County with 80, Lubbock County with one, Lynn County with one, Martin County with one, Terry County with 21 and Yoakum County with five.
The current age demographics of the cases are as follows: Between 0 to 4-years-old there has been 39 cases; Between 5 to 17-years-old there has been 62 cases; For 18-years-old and older there has been 18 cases; and Five cases are pending age identification.
The Texas Department of State Health Services is warning residents in the outbreak area and surrounding communities that because measles is highly contagious more cases are expected.
The agency has also put Central Texas communities on alert this week after a person from the West Texas outbreak area visited San Marcos, New Braunfels and San Antonio areas the weekend of Feb. 14-16 while they were contagious with the measles.
Lubbock Public Health is urging unvaccinated residents to monitor for measles symptoms due to possible exposure at two local stores last week.
The first was last Wednesday, around 5:30 p.m. at the Walmart off South Loop 289 and Quaker and the second was last Thursday, around 5:30 p.m., at the Target on University.
The United Family is reminding community members that United Supermarkets, Amigos, and Market Street Pharmacies in Texas can administer the Measles, Mumps & Rubella (MMR) vaccine in store.
For those considering the option, no appointment is necessary. Guests can walk in to talk to a pharmacist and request an MMR vaccine. Pharmacists can vaccinate children age 13 and under with a prescription from their doctor. They can vaccinate children 14 and up without a prescription. Post-exposure prophylaxis is available for adults within three days of exposure.
The latest information can be found on the DSHS website. If additional cases are confirmed, the information will be updated on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The measles virus can survive in the air for up to two hours, so the times listed include two hours after the individual left that location.
Because measles symptoms can begin 7 to 21 days after an exposure, DSHS is sharing this information with health care providers and the public in the area so unvaccinated people may monitor themselves for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms occur.
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. 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. Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people. DSHS and CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommend children receive one dose of MMR vaccine at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years. Each MMR dose lowers the risk of infection and severity of illness if infected. Children too young to be vaccinated are more likely to have severe complications if they get infected with the measles virus.
People with confirmed or suspected measles should stay home from school, work, and other group settings until after the fourth day of rash onset.
During an outbreak, people without documented immunity from vaccination or previous measles infection should be isolated from anyone with measles to protect those without immunity and control the outbreak. Additional information on school exclusion and readmission can be found at School Communicable Disease Chart.
According to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, schools and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized children for at least 21 days after the last date the unimmunized child was exposed to a measles case.
Measles is extremely contagious and can cause lifethreatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. Review your and your child’s vaccination history to see if you are up to date on your measles vaccines.
Additionally, discuss with your provider your vaccination history and any questions about these vaccines.