Cnn
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The number of measles cases linked to an epidemic in western Texas has increased to 58, according to Texas Department of State Health Services.
Most cases are centered in the county of Gaines, which reports 45 cases. Other surrounding areas also see the spread of the disease, with 9 cases in the county of Terry, two in the county of Yoakum, one in the county of Lynn and one in the county of Lubbock.
Cases are mainly in children aged 5 to 17. Although most of the cases are found in non -vaccinated people or those whose vaccination status is unknown, there were four cases of measles in people who have been vaccinated. No other details were immediately available on these four people.
In any case, the symptoms have started in the past three weeks. Thirteen people were hospitalized.
Local health services in western Texas are organizing free vaccination clinics for the community. There have been at least 95 vaccines against measles-rumps-rublla (MMR) in a clinic organized by the South Plains Public Health District, which includes the county of Gaines, according to Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the health district. The clinic has recently expanded its hours to open seven days a week for vaccinations.
Given the contagious measles, health officials warn that cases can continue to increase in the region.
Measles is a disease in suspension in the air which can cause a rash, fever, red eyes and a cough. Serious cases can lead to blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. In some cases, the disease can be fatal.
The coverage of the ROR vaccine is particularly low in the county of Gaines, where nearly 1 in 5 out of 5 in 5 in the 2023-24 school year did not obtain the vaccine.
The other counties affected in Texas also fall below the target that at least 95% of kindergarten children will have obtained two doses of the ROR vaccine, a threshold set by the United States Ministry of Health and Social Services to help Prevent epidemics of very contagious disease. The counties of Lynn, Lubbock and Yoakum are all around 92%, according to data from Texas Department of Health.
The United States is now below this threshold for four consecutive years.
Eight cases of measles were also detected in the county of Lea, in New Mexico, which borders the county of Gaines, in Texas, the Ministry of Health of New Mexico. The agency did not confirm any direct contact with the cases of Texas.
The last five cases, reported on Tuesday, are in a single insulating family.
In the eight total cases in the County of Lea, six are non -vaccinated people. The other two believe that they were vaccinated, according to Robert Nott, director of communications for the Department of State Health. None of the eight has been hospitalized.
The New Mexico Health Department also organizes free vaccination clinics for Lea County.
The 285 cases of measles were reported in the United States last year, the most since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention American.