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2mo ago

Texas Measles Outbreak Grows, Impacting Unvaccinated Children

Gaines County sees a rise in cases, with low vaccination rates contributing to the spread of the highly contagious virus.

File photo of a child getting a vaccine at the Dallas County Health & Human Services immunization clinic in Dallas on Friday, March 8, 2019.
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228 cases of measles have now been confirmed in 12 states according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Overview

  • The Texas Department of State Health Services has reported 14 confirmed measles cases and six probable cases in Gaines County and surrounding areas.
  • Most cases involve unvaccinated children, including two under the age of five, with seven individuals hospitalized so far.
  • Gaines County's vaccination rate for kindergartners is 82%, below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity, with an 18% exemption rate for non-medical reasons.
  • Measles is highly contagious, spreading through respiratory droplets and remaining infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area.
  • Health officials stress the importance of vaccination, noting that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine significantly reduces the risk of infection and severe complications.