Measles Cases in West Texas Grow to 159

On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) released its latest figures in the ongoing measles outbreak in nine West Texas counties, one of the largest outbreaks in recent history. Since late January, 159 cases have been reported, with at least 22 patients hospitalized. 

CNN reported that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s Epidemic Intelligence Service said it is on the ground in Texas assisting local teams. 

Gaines County, Texas, the center of the outbreak, saw cases grow to 107. Most cases are in patients who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status. The majority of cases are in school age children aged 5 to 17 years old (74 cases) with cases in children aged 4 or younger also growing (53 cases). 

An unvaccinated child died of measles on February 26, the first death from measles in the U.S. since 2015. The health department said on Tuesday the child had no known underlying conditions. DSHS also reported four measles cases in Harris, Rockwall, and Travis Counties, that are not associated with the outbreak in West Texas, but international travel. 

DSHS also released data on vaccination coverage levels in schools, including conscientious exemptions. As CMM previously reported, Gaines County had the third highest vaccine exemption rate in Texas last year.   

Additionally, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been promoting unconventional measles treatments in the media. Still the CDC and DSHS said vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection, and measles does not have a specific antiviral treatment.