Not only in Texas: These other 8 states have confirmed cases of measles this year

The measles outbreak affecting the South Plains and Panhandle regions doesn’t look like abating any time soon. The latest report from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows that cases are up from 124 at the end of January to 159 as of 4 March.

New measles cases reported in Texas since Friday

The DSHS added that a total of 22 of the patients have been admitted to hospital - up four since Friday. Most of the patients have required respiratory support to stop them developing viral pneumonia - one of the most lethal complications associated with the disease. The majority of those affected are children aged five to 17 who have not been vaccinated against the disease although there are five cases in people who were vaccinated with one dose of the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine.

There has also been a fatality - a school-aged child, was not vaccinated and was admitted to hospital in Lubbock last week after testing positive for measles. The patient had no known underlying conditions. It is the first death from measles in the United States since 2015.

Measles cases reported in nine US states

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has confirmed 164 measles cases in eight other states this year up to 27 February: Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island.

The CDC report that three outbreaks are being monitored (where three or more related cases are identified). Of the 164 cases, almost half (48%) are patients aged 5-19 years a fifth (32) have been hospitalized.

About 95% of nationally confirmed cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, 3% have received one dose of the MMR shot and 3%, two MMR shots.

What is measles and how dangerous is it?

Measles is an acute febrile illness, which is highly contagious and potentially fatal. It is an airborne disease which spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes.

Measles infects the respiratory tract and then spreads throughout the body. Symptoms include a high fever, cough, runny nose and a characteristic red rash which appears all over the body usually three to four days after the onset of fever.

Where to get vaccinated

The federal vaccines.gov website provides information about pharmacies and health providers which offer a range of vaccinations, including the MMR shot against measles.

If you suspect your child might have measles, call 911 immediately.

According to World Health Organization figures, an estimated 107,500 people died from measles in 2023 – mostly children under the age of five years.

Following a highly effective vaccination program which started in 1978, measles was officially eradicated from the United States in 2000. For an infectious disease to be officially eliminated, there must be an absence of the continuous spread of disease for a period of over 12 months.

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