Here’s everything we know about measles in Texas

DALLAS — More than 120 cases of measles have been reported in Texas, including one here in North Texas, and a child in Lubbock has died from the virus, health officials said.

We’re continuing to track the latest updates, and we’re expecting to get a new round of data from state officials on Friday. The Texas Department of State Health Services releases new data on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Here’s what we know about measles, so far:

The main measles outbreak has been in the South Plains region of West Texas, where 124 cases have been confirmed . Most of the cases have been among unvaccinated children, although five people who are vaccinated have been among the cases, according to health officials.

The other reported measles case in Texas was reported in Rockwall County, which officials confirmed on Wednesday. The Rockwall County case is an unvaccinated adult, officials said. More information about the case is below.

On Thursday, Mexia ISD in Limestone County reported one case of German measles within the district. This is Central Texas’ first confirmed case. German measles is also known as Rubella and according to the CDC, Rubella spreads when an infected person coughs or sneezes and usually causes a rash that first appears on the face. It’s unclear if the infected individual is a child or an adult.

Yes. State officials on Wednesday said a school-aged child died in Lubbock. The child, whose exact age was not released, was hospitalized last week and tested positive for measles. The child was not vaccinated, according to health officials.

While one death has been reported, 18 people have been hospitalized in the West Texas outbreak, officials say. The person who has the virus in Rockwall County has also been hospitalized.

Yes. State officials on Wednesday confirmed that one case of measles was discovered in an unvaccinated adult in Rockwall County. The case was reported to the state health department on Feb. 25. 

The Rockwall County Emergency Management Department confirmed to WFAA that the patient is currently hospitalized, but it’s unclear if they have other health problems that might have worsened their symptoms.

The department and DSHS also said the patient recently traveled internationally. The virus expert analyzing this case believes the person caught the measles during their international trip, returned home, and then became sick.

As of now, DSHS said it doesn’t appear that the individual visited public places in Rockwall while they were contagious. There is no timeline of the person’s travel or when they started to become ill, officials said.

WFAA Anchor Dia Wall held a Q&A with the Chief of Infectious Diseases at Children’s Health, Dr. Jeffrey Kahn. Watch the full video below

According to the Centers for Disease Control, measles is a highly contagious virus that can be serious. In its definition, the CDC notes, “Anyone who is not protected against measles is at risk,” adding that two doses of the MMR vaccine provide the best protection against measles.

Measles symptoms usually begin 7 to 14 days after infection, the CDC said.

Early symptoms 

• High fever (may spike to more than 104°)
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Red, watery eyes or conjunctivitis
• Tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin

Measles rash

A rash typically appears three to five days after the first symptoms, according to the CDC. It usually begins as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline. They then spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.

• Small raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.
• The spots may become joined together as they spread from the head to the rest of the body.
• When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104° Fahrenheit.

Measles spreads through infectious droplets and the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. It’s important to note that the measles virus can remain infectious in the air up to two hours after an infected person leaves.

Symptoms of measles don’t show up until a week, sometimes two weeks, after exposure. The challenge is that those infected are contagious about four days before any outward signs of the virus appear.

The Texas Department of State Health Services provides guidance for those who believe they have been exposed to measles.

• Stay home from work, school and other group settings until after the fourth day of the rash onset
• Isolate, especially if you are unvaccinated against measles
• Call your doctor before you show up to get tested, so they can prepare
• Unvaccinated kids shall be excluded from schools and childcare settings for at least 21 days from exposure to a measles case, according to the Texas Administrative Code

Get more information on how long kids will be out of school and when they can return to Texas online here.

Measles can cause serious health complications, especially in children younger than 5 years of age. Common complications are ear infections and diarrhea. Serious complications include pneumonia and encephalitis, according to the CDC.

“That’s the age group where most hospitalizations and complications have been described. Again, this will be mostly on those less than 5 years of age that have not been vaccinated. So historically, because measles was a disease that we rarely see, most of the adult people are already immune for prior vaccination because of the fact that there was no circulation,” Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno, Director for Infection Prevention and Control at Children’s Medical Center Plano, said.

Hospitalization and complications during pregnancy are also documented risks of the virus.

In addition to young children, those most at risk also include pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems, such as from leukemia or HIV infection.

According to the CDC, measles was eradicated in 2000 and has been rarely reported since then. The agency stresses that the best protection is the vaccine.

The CDC recommends all children get two doses of the MMR, or measles-mumps-rubella, vaccine with the first dose at 12 to 15 months of age and the second dose at 4 to 6 years of age. Children can also get the second dose earlier, at least 28 days following the first dose.

For students at post-high school educational institutions without the vaccine, a two-dose MMR vaccine is recommended, separated by at least 28 days.

For adults who do not have the vaccine, at least one dose of MMR vaccine is recommended.

Full schedule and information here: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/mmr/public/index.html

Whitworth suggests families with babies who are too young to receive the vaccine take extra precautions.

“Make sure the parents; vaccines are up to date, make sure the siblings’ vaccines are up to date. If grandparents are keeping those kids, make sure the grandparents’ vaccines are up to date,” she said. “Avoid any contact with people who have cough, runny nose, red eyes, or a rash. Avoid all ill contacts.”