A record-breaking outbreak of measles continues to worsen in western Texas — and has now spread over the border into eastern New Mexico, according to health officials.
Cases of the highly contagious respiratory virus in the Long Star State have climbed to 90 as of Friday — nearly double what they were one week ago, state health officials said Friday.
The outbreak is the worst in the state’s history in almost 30 years, Texas health officials said Friday.
So far, 16 Texans have been hospitalized from measles, which typically carries symptoms including a high fever, cough, runny nose, rash and watery eyes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In some cases, however, the virus can cause serious health complications — especially in children under 5 — including pneumonia and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
The cases in Texas so far are concentrated in Gaines County, with 57, and Terry County, where there are 20 infections.
The majority of cases — 51 —are among kids 5-17 years old, while 26 cases are among children under 4 years old, according to Texas health department data.
“Close-knit, under-vaccinated” Mennonite communities — especially those who attend small, private schools or are homeschooled — have been hit the hardest, Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health Department, said last week.
But now, cases have spread into New Mexico’s Lea County, which borders Texas’ Gaines County.
The New Mexican health department has said its nine infections may have come from exposure at a grocery store, a church, an elementary school, Nor-Le Hospital and a Walgreens in Hobbs.
Officials warned that the numbers will continue to climb, as the virus can survive in the air for up to two hours after an infected individual has been there.
Nine out of 10 people who are susceptible will contract measles if they’re exposed, according to the CDC, which recommends people to receive two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent infection.
With Post wires
