LUBBOCK, Texas — In its latest update, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said there were 198 cases of measles across Texas.
DSHS said 23 patients were hospitalized. Officials said most cases were not vaccinated. Health officials said disease is highly contagious, and the best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles.
In late February, health officials confirmed an unvaccinated school-aged child passed away due to the measles. Officials could not specify the exact age of the child who passed, or if they suffered any underlying health issues.
DSHS said there were other cases not associated with the West Texas outbreak. Those included two cases in Harris County, one in Rockwall and one in Travis County. These cases were all associated with international travel to a country where measles regularly spreads.
In Lea County, New Mexico, an unvaccinated resident tested positive for measles after they passed away. The official cause of death remains under investigation. The individual did not seek medical care before passing, according to the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). That brought New Mexico’s total case count to 10, all residents of Lea County. The cases included six adults and four children under the age of 17. Seven cases were unvaccinated, and the remaining had unknown vaccination history, according to NMDOH.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, there were 222 cases reported across the country as of March 7.
Who should get vaccinated?
DSHS recommended that parents of infants ages six to 11 months old consider an early dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Another dose will be recommended at 12 to 15 months old. For children who received the vaccine early, a final dose would be recommended at ages four to six years old.
For children over 12 months old, if the child has not had a measles shot, DSHS recommended they get a dose immediately, followed by another after 28 days. DSHS said teens and adults with no evidence of immunity should do the same.
If you were born between 1957 and 1968 and received an older MMR vaccine, health officials recommend getting vaccinated again. Adults born before 1967, pregnant women and people with severe immunodeficiency were not recommended to get the vaccine.
You can find more information about measles symptoms and the MMR vaccine here.
