US Measles Outbreaks: Nearly 100 People Infected Across Two States

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has reported that as of February 21, 90 cases of measles have been identified in the South Plains region since late January, with 16 of these people having been hospitalized with the illness. According to the DSHS, the number of cases is likely to increase, “due to the highly contagious nature of this disease.”

The vast majority of cases so far have been in those below the age of 18, and in people who are either unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status. 

Across the border in Lea Country, New Mexico, the Department of Health has identified nine measles cases – four in under 18s – as of February 20.

Measles is a highly contagious infectious disease caused by the measles virus, and is considered particularly dangerous for babies and young children. Symptoms typically show up around one to two weeks after infection, and first include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red watery eyes.

Around two to three days after symptoms start, tiny white spots called Koplik spots might appear inside the mouth – and a couple of days later, a rash that starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body typically occurs.

Some groups of people are more likely to see more serious complications from measles, including people younger than 5 years old, those older than 20 years old, those who are pregnant, and those with weakened immune systems. 

Such complications can include swelling of the brain and pneumonia; according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), pneumonia affects as many as 1 in every 20 children who get measles and is the most common cause of death from the disease in young children.

There is no specific treatment for measles, which means that prevention is essential to reducing the likelihood of outbreaks and serious illness. The CDC recommends that the best way to protect against measles is with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine; roughly one in five people in the US who get measles and aren’t vaccinated end up in hospital.

The MMR vaccine has been at the center of a now nearly 30-year-long conspiracy theory linking it to autism, despite a total lack of evidence to show that’s the case. The jab is both safe and effective, with two doses found to be around 97 percent effective at preventing measles. Most people don’t get side effects, and those that do occur – which can include soreness at the injection site, rash, fever, and joint pain – are usually mild and temporary.

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.