With two fatalities reported in the last few weeks, the West Texas measles outbreak continues to spread, as state health officials announced Tuesday that the number of identified cases has reached 505.
According to the update, 24 cases had been added since April 3.
Since late January, 57 patients have been hospitalized with measles, officials say, which equates to 11.28 percent of cases.
As of Tuesday, Brown and Erath counties have been added to the list.
The fatalities were both school-aged children living within in the outbreak area, and both were unvaccinated, and had no known underlying conditions.
According to health experts, individuals are considered infectious four-days before and four-days after the onset of the rash characteristic of measles.
According to information from the Centers for Disease Control, measles has a contagion rate around 90 percent for unvaccinated individuals, making it very likely that additional cases will continue to be reported.
According to the Department of State Health Services, there are six cases in the central and southeast part of the state not associated with the outbreak in west Texas.
According to DSHS, only seven individuals (1.38%) who were fully vaccinated have been infected to date.
On March 28, officials announced that the San Angelo-Tom Green County Health Department had been notified that a Lubbock resident, who later tested positive for measles, visited several locations in San Angelo during their infectious period between March 22-23.
No cases have been reported in San Angelo as a result of that individual.
Surrounding states are also reporting measles, which experts say could be linked to the Texas outbreak, with Kansas reporting 24 cases, New Mexico reporting 56 cases and Oklahoma reporting eight cases.
TEXAS OUTBREAK BY COUNTY (number of cases)
- Gaines – 328
- Terry – 46
- Lubbock – 36
- Dawson – 20
- Yoakum – 17
- Lamar – 11
- Cochran – 10
- Ector – 8
- Dallam – 7
- Hale – 5
- Hockley – 3
- Martin – 3
- Lynn – 2
- Garza – 2
Andrews, Borden, Brown, Erath, Lamb, Midland and Randall counties all report single cases.
TOTAL – 505
Measles Facts
To minimize the risk of infection and serious illness, individuals should make sure they are vaccinated to include documented evidence of administration of two doses of live measles vaccine or laboratory evidence of immunity.
The vaccine has a 97-percent efficacy rate to protect against the measles virus.
Symptoms of measles include:
- High fever up to 105°F
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Rash that typically appears 3-5 days after initial symptoms, starting at the hairline/scalp and progresses down the body and extremities.
Contact the Health Department at 325-657-4214 with any questions or concerns.
