A measles outbreak in western Texas continues to grow, with the number of confirmed cases reaching 259, according to data released Friday. Health officials reported 36 new cases in the last three days.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reports that the outbreak is primarily affecting unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Breakthrough infections, while rare, have occurred in two individuals who received two doses of the measles vaccine.
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The outbreak has resulted in at least 34 hospitalizations.
Children and teenagers between 5 and 17 years old make up the largest portion of cases, with 115, followed by children aged 4 and under, comprising 86 cases.
DSHS anticipates further case confirmations in the affected area and surrounding communities.
The outbreak has been linked to two likely measles deaths in the U.S. One death is confirmed, while the other is definitively linked to the measles virus, but the official cause of death remains under investigation.
The first reported death was an unvaccinated school-aged child in Texas with no known underlying conditions, according to DSHS. This was the first measles death recorded in the U.S. in a decade, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). A probable measles death was also recorded last week after an unvaccinated New Mexico resident tested positive for the virus.
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Gaines County is the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, with 174 confirmed cases among residents. State health data reveals a significant increase in vaccine exemptions in Gaines County over the past decade. In 2013, about 7.5% of kindergartners in the county had parents or guardians who filed for an exemption for at least one vaccine. By 2023, that number had risen to over 17.5%, one of the highest rates in Texas.
The CDC has confirmed 301 measles cases in at least 14 states this year, including Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, and Washington. This number exceeds the total cases reported nationwide last year (285).
The CDC reports that the majority of confirmed cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Measles is highly contagious, with one infected person capable of spreading the virus to nine out of ten susceptible close contacts.
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Health officials are urging unvaccinated individuals to get the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. The CDC recommends two doses: the first at 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. Two doses provide 97% protection, and most vaccinated adults do not need a booster.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to a highly effective vaccination program.
However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been declining in recent years.
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