Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Feb 11, 2025 1 month, 5 days, 12 hours, 13 minutes ago
U.S. Medical News: A Rising Threat - Measles Cases Increase in Texas
Texas is witnessing a concerning surge in measles cases as the number of unvaccinated individuals continues to grow. In the past three weeks alone, at least fifteen cases of measles have been reported across two Texas counties, with health officials expressing serious concern about the potential for a larger outbreak.
Measles Cases Surge in Texas as Vaccination Rates Decline
The situation first gained attention in late January when the Houston Health Department identified two measles cases in adults who had recently traveled abroad. Both individuals lived in the same household and were unvaccinated. Shortly after, the Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed an outbreak in Gaines County, a small rural area in West Texas, with ten cases reported by February 7. Most of those infected were school-aged children, sparking alarm among health professionals.
Dr. Linda Yancey, an infectious disease specialist at Memorial Hermann, has raised red flags over the return of a disease that was once considered eradicated in the United States. She warns that declining vaccination rates could lead to measles becoming endemic in the country again. This
U.S. Medical News report aims to explore the causes, risks, and solutions to this growing health threat.
Understanding Measles and Its Dangers
Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that spreads through respiratory droplets. It is characterized by symptoms such as high fever, cough, runny nose, and a red rash that typically starts on the face and spreads across the body. The disease can cause serious complications, including pneumonia, brain swelling, and even death, particularly in young children and those with weakened immune systems.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a vaccination rate of at least 95% is required to prevent outbreaks. Unfortunately, vaccination rates in Texas have fallen below this threshold. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Texas had a statewide kindergarten vaccination rate of around 97%. Today, that number has dropped to 94.3%, leaving many children vulnerable to the disease. In the Houston Independent School District, the vaccination rate plummeted to 78.7% in 2020 before recovering slightly to 93.5%.
Texas law allows parents to claim exemptions from school vaccination requirements for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. The number of such exemptions has surged in recent years, rising from approximately 46,000 in 2018 to 93,000 in 2024. This significant increase raises concerns among public health experts, as unvaccinated communities provide fertile ground for measles to spread.
A Closer Look at the Gaines County Outbreak
The situation in Gaines County is particularly alarming. The county has one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in Texas, with nearly 14% of school-aged children opting out of at least one required vaccine during the 2023-24 school year. This rate is more than five time
s the state average and significantly higher than the national average of 3.3%.
https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/data/school/conscientious-exemptions
Local health officials responded swiftly by setting up a drive-thru vaccination clinic and offering screening services to residents. South Plains Public Health District Director Zach Holbrooks confirmed that the first two cases in the county were identified in late January and were traced back to two children who had seen a physician in Lubbock. Some cases appear to be linked to private religious schools, but investigations are ongoing.
The outbreak in Gaines County is part of a larger national trend. In 2024, the United States saw a rise in measles cases, including an outbreak in Chicago that infected more than 60 people. In February, health officials in metro Atlanta were working to contain another measles outbreak. One of the early Gaines County cases even traveled to neighboring New Mexico while still contagious, though no additional infections have been reported there yet.
The Importance of Vaccination
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles infections. The vaccine is administered in two doses, with the first recommended between 12 to 15 months of age and the second between 4 to 6 years. This vaccine is required for most public school enrollments in the United States, yet declining vaccination rates put communities at risk.
Dr. Yancey stresses the importance of immunization, stating, "This vaccine has been available for decades and has a proven track record of safety and effectiveness. If you have questions, speak with your child's pediatrician for accurate information."
A Call to Action: Preventing Future Outbreaks
Public health officials continue to advocate for increased vaccination coverage to prevent future outbreaks. Measles is an extremely contagious virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. If an unvaccinated person comes into contact with someone who has measles, there is a 90% chance they will contract the disease. Before the introduction of the vaccine in 1963, the United States experienced between 3 to 4 million measles cases per year. Thanks to widespread immunization efforts, the number of cases has been reduced to fewer than 200 annually - until now.
With measles cases on the rise again, health experts urge communities to take proactive measures. The resurgence of this preventable disease serves as a stark reminder of the critical role vaccinations play in maintaining public health. Without sufficient immunization coverage, outbreaks like the one in Texas will become more frequent and severe.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/articles/measles
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