MEASLES – USA (03): (TEXAS) MORE CASES
A ProMED-mail post
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Date: Thu 30 Jan 2025 14:00 CST
Source: Texas Tribune [abridged, edited]
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/30/texas-measles-vaccinations-schools/
At least 4 cases of measles, including 2 involving school-aged
children, have been reported in Texas in less than 2 weeks, putting
state health agencies on alert. For some communities, this is the
first case of measles in more than 20 years.
Laura Anton, spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health
Services, said the agency sent out an alert to health providers
statewide once measles were confirmed to be found in 2 adult residents
in Harris County last week [23 Jan 2025]. The alert stated that both
individuals reside in the same household and were unvaccinated against
measles. These were the first confirmed cases of measles reported in
Texas since 2023, when 2 were reported.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease. General symptoms may
include fever, cough, runny nose, watery eyes, and a full-body rash.
This disease can cause serious health consequences and even death,
especially for young and unvaccinated children.
About 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the United States who get measles
will be hospitalized, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC). Up to 3 of every 1000 children who become infected
with measles may die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
Houston Health Department officials say the cases of measles were
associated with the pair’s recent international travel and released a
list of possible locations and dates where members of the public might
have been exposed.
The state health agency also confirmed 2 measles cases in the South
Plains, both involving school-aged children who were not vaccinated.
Anton said they were hospitalized and have since been discharged.
Katherine Wells, the Lubbock Health Department’s health director, said
the children were treated at a Lubbock health care facility. They were
from the area, but not Lubbock residents. Wells said at this time,
there are no known sites of exposure outside the health care facility
where they were tested. Since Lubbock is the medical hub for the South
Plains, they traveled to Lubbock for testing.
“We’re working with the South Plains Public Health District and our
medical partners to work and identify where there could have been some
community exposures,” Wells said. The state health agency is helping
with the disease investigation in Lubbock and the South Plains
region.
Wells said the community should be aware of the cases, as well as
health care professionals who see rashes or high fevers from their
patients. “We want people to know there were some cases here,” Wells
said. “So if they have concerns and are unvaccinated, call your health
provider or the health department for more information.” Wells said
that the last measles case in Lubbock County was in 2004.
Austin Public Health has also sent an alert about the potential
measles outbreak, urging residents to take proactive measures to
protect themselves and their families. The last confirmed measles case
in the city of Austin was in December 2019.
“Vaccination is our best defense against measles and other preventable
diseases,” said Desmar Walkes, medical director and health authority
for Austin/Travis County. “By staying up to date on vaccinations, we
not only protect ourselves but also the most vulnerable members of our
community.”
The recent upswing in cases statewide comes as the measles vaccination
rate among kindergarteners has dropped, from almost 97% in the
2019-2020 school year to 94.3% in 2023-24. Texas is among the majority
of states that have seen vaccination declines since the pandemic.
In March 2024, there were already more reported cases of measles than
in all of 2023, according to the CDC.
A result of the country’s vaccination program, measles was officially
eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning the disease has not
spread continuously for over 12 months. Experts recommend that
children get the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in 2 doses: the
first between 12 months and 15 months of age and the second between 4
and 6 years old. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles
infection, and 2 doses are about 97% effective.
Vaccine proponents fear statewide disease trends will worsen as Texas
lawmakers this legislative session try to weaken vaccine mandates and
more families opt out of immunizations. Since 2018, the requests to
the Texas Department of State Health Services for an exemption form
have doubled from 45 900 to more than 93 000 in 2024.
Lawmakers have filed more than 20 vaccination-related bills, including
a House joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Texas
Constitution to preserve Texans’ right to refuse vaccination.
President Donald Trump’s re-election and his selection of Robert F.
Kennedy Jr. as his choice for US Health and Human Services secretary
has boosted the vaccine choice movement. Kennedy has previously made
controversial comments about vaccines, which include linking them to
autism in children.