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At least four cases of measles, two of which involving children of school age, were reported in Texas in less than two 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 Texas Department of State Health Services, said the agency had sent an alert to health providers throughout the state once the measles had been found in two adult residents of the Harris County Last week.
The alert said the two individuals live in the same household and were not vaccinated against measles. These were the first confirmed cases of measles reported in Texas since 2023, when two were reported.
Measles is a very contagious air disease. General symptoms may include fever, a cough, a flowing nose, aqueous eyes and an eruption of the body. This disease can cause serious consequences on health and even death, especially for young and non -vaccinated children.
Not in 5 not vaccinated people in the United States who obtain measles will be hospitalized, according to the centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Up to three children from 1,000 children infected with measles can die from respiratory and neurological complications.
Houston department of health department say that measles cases were associated with the recent international pairs trips and have published a list of possible places and dates where members of the public could have been exposed.
The State Health Agency also confirmed two cases of measles in South Plains, both involving school -aged children who have not been vaccinated. Anton said they had been hospitalized and had since been released.
Katherine Wells, Director of Health of the Lubbock Health Department, said the children had been treated in a lubbock health care establishment. They came from the region, but not from Lubbock residents. Wells said at that time there are no known exhibition sites outside the health care establishment where they were tested. Since Lubbock is the South Plains medical center, they went to Lubbock for the tests.
“We are working with the South Plains public health district and our medical partners to work and identify where there could have been community exhibitions,” said Wells. The State Health Agency helps in survey disease in Lubbock and in the South Plains region.
Wells has said that the community should be aware of cases, as well as health professionals who see rashes or strong fevers from their patients.
“We want people to know that there were cases here,” said Wells. “So if they have concerns and are not vaccinated, call your health supplier or the health service for more information.”
Wells said the last case of measles in the county of Lubbock was in 2004.
Austin Public Health also sent an alert on the potential epidemic of measles, urging residents to take proactive measures to protect themselves and their families. The last confirmed case of measles in the city of Austin took place in December 2019.
“Vaccination is our best defense against measles and other avoidable diseases,” said Desmar Walkes, medical director and health authority for the county of Austin / Travis. “By remaining up to date on vaccinations, we protect ourselves not only but also the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The recent increase in cases at the level of the state occurs while the rate of vaccination of measles in children’s gardens has dropped, almost 97% during the 2019-2020 school year to 94 , 3% in 2023-24. Texas is one of the majority of states that have dropped to vaccination from the pandemic.
In March 2024, there was already more cases of measles reported than in 2023, according to the CDC.
Repeated from the country’s vaccination program, measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000, which means that the disease has not spread continuously for more than 12 months.
Experts recommend that children get the measles vaccine, mumps and two -doses rubella: the first between 12 months and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. A dose is effective by around 93% to prevent measles infection, and two doses are around 97%.
Other diseases considered to be forgotten for a long time also make a return.
Pek returns to pre-pale levels. Polio, another disease considered to be eradicated, was detected in the wastewater in New York State in 2022.
Supporters of vaccines fear that the trends in state -of -scale diseases get worse as legislators in Texas, this legislative session is trying to weaken vaccination mandates and more families were dishonored.
Since 2018, requests to Texas Department of State Health Services for an exemption form have doubled from 45,900 to more than 93,000 in 2024.
The legislators have tabled more than 20 bills linked to vaccination, in particular a joint resolution of the Chamber offering an amendment to the Constitution of Texas to preserve the right of Texans to refuse vaccination.
The re-election of President Donald Trump and his selection of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary in the United States for Health and Social Services have stimulated the movement of choosing vaccines. Kennedy has already made controversial comments on vaccines, which include binding them to autism in children.
During her confirmation audience this week, the American senators interviewed his trip to the Samoa in 2019, months before 83 people, mainly children, died of an epidemic of measles there.
Kennedy recently resumed some of his declarations at the hearing, saying that he was not “anti-vacation” but “pro-security” when he was asked to clarify his position on vaccines.
“I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will not do anything as secretary of the HHS who makes things difficult or discourages people from taking anything, “he said.
