Texas measles outbreak grows to 327 cases with 18 infections confirmed during the last 5 days: officials
The measles outbreak in western Texas continues to grow with 18 confirmed cases in the last five days, which takes the total of 327 cases, according to new data published on Tuesday.
Almost all cases are found in non -vaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas State Health Services Department (DSHS). At least 40 people have been hospitalized so far.
There have only been two cases in people completely vaccinated with the measles vaccine, paper, rubella (MMR), according to the data.
In the outbreak of Texas, children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 represent most cases to 140, followed by 4 -year -old children and under 105 cases, depending on the data.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases occur in the surrounding area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak,” said the department in a Press release.
The signals indicate the way to measles tests in the parking lot of the Seminole hospital district in front of the Wigwam stadium, on February 27, 2025 in Seminole, Texas.
Jan Sonnenmair/Getty images, file
It comes as confirmed by another case of measles in New Mexico, which takes the total to 43, according to state data Health Department. Most cases are in Lea County, which limits with Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak in Texas.
In the nearby Oklahoma, the total number of measles cases has increased to nine, all among which are not vaccinated or with an unknown state.
In addition, two measles cases were confirmed in Erie County, Pennsylvania, Monday. A press release from the Erie County Health Department said the cases were linked to international trips and that there is no high risk of exposure for the general population.
According to the DSHS, two probable measles deaths have been reported so far in the United States, the first was a child not vaccinated in Texas in Texas. The child had no known underlying condition, according to the department.
Texas’s death was the first measles death recorded in the United States in a decade, according to data from disease control and prevention centers.
A possible measles death was recorded after a non -vaccinated resident of New Mexico tested positive for the virus after his death. The New Mexico Health Department (NMDOH) said the official cause of death is still under investigation.
The CDC has confirmed 378 measles cases This year, in at least 17 states: Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington. This is likely to be lower content due to delays in states that report cases to the Federal Health Agency.
Most of the cases confirmed nationwide, around 95%, are found in non -vaccinated people or whose vaccination status is unknown, said the CDC. Of these cases, 3% are among those who received only one dose of the inoculation of MMR and 2% are among those who received the two required doses, according to the CDCs.
CDC currently recommended That people receive two doses of vaccine, the first at the ages of 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years. A dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective, says CDC. Most vaccinated adults do not need reinforcement.
For those who live in the outbreak area, Texas health officials are recommending that parents consider an early dose of the MMR vaccine for children between 6 months and 11 months, and that adults receive a second dose of MMR if they only received one in the past.
