According to the latest update from the Texas Department of State Health Services the current measles outbreak in West Texas only added 20 new cases this week, bringing the total of confirmed cases to 561.
Health officials working to contain the spread of the disease hope that fewer than 25-percent of cases are currently estimated to be infectious since the onset of the characteristic rash associated with measles.
To date, 58 of the patients have required hospitalization over the course of the outbreak.
Fatalities remain at two, both unvaccinated school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area.
Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities.
Based on the most recent data, DSHS has identified designated outbreak counties with ongoing measles transmission: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum.
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.
