School-aged children in the state are experiencing a growing outbreak of measles, according to officials at the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
So far, 10 cases have been recorded in Gaines County. Of those, eight were identified as school-aged children, with two under five. In each case, the children were unvaccinated.
“All of the cases are unvaccinated and residents of Gaines County. Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak,” read the DSHS announcement on February 7.
Last month, Tom Patterson, writing in The Dallas Express, said he believes that a lack of trust in doctors’ advice following the COVID-19 pandemic scare has driven a decrease in children obtaining vaccinations. That has led to a resurgence of diseases once thought eliminated. Measles, in particular, was thought to have been entirely eradicated 25 years ago, yet outbreaks continue to pop up.
Last April, The Dallas Express reported that measles was on track to jump over 800% compared to 2023. One of the outbreaks in the country was blamed on city-run illegal alien shelters in Chicago. That prompted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to revise city requirements for using the shelter.
The DSHS says seven of the 10 reported measles cases in Texas resulted in hospitalization. Officials urge people to report suspected cases of measles to their local health department while in the presence of the infected individual.
The virus can be transmitted between people via direct contact with infectious droplets or through airborne means, such as when someone with the disease breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Notably, measles can remain infectious in the air for upwards of two hours after the infected individual has left the area.
“The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles,” the announcement continued.