Measles and Tetanus Vaccine Vials Are Ready to Be Administred at the Dallas County Health & Human Services Immunization Clinic in Dallas, on March 8, 2019. Credit: Vernon Bryant/The Dallas Morning News via AP
The Measles Outbreak in Rural West Texas has gronown to 90 Across Seven Counties, The State Health Department Posted online Friday, and 16 People are hospitalized.
In Neighboring Eastern New Mexico, The Measles Case Count is Up to Nine, Thought State Public Health Officials Said Thursday There’s Still No Evidence This Outbreak is Connected to the One In Texas.
Measles is the Highly Contagious Disease. Here’s what you should know how to protect Yourself Against Measles, as well as what’s Happening in Texas and New Mexico.
Where Are Measles Spreading?
The West Texas Cases are concentrated in gaines country, Which has 57 infections, and terry country, north of gaines, where there are now now 20 confirmed cases.
Dawson County, to the East of Gaines, was New to the Count With Six. Yoakum county has four and lubbock, lynn and ector country have a case each.
Texas State Health Department Date Shows The Vast Majority of Cases Are Among People Younger Thanger Than 18: 26 In Kids Younger than 4 and 51 in Kids 5-17 Years Old. Ten adults have measles and three cases are “pending” an age determination. The Ector County Health Department Told The Odessa American Its Case was in a Child Too Young to Be Vaccinated.
State Health Officials have said this outbreak is Texas’ Largest in Nearly 30 Years. Health Department Spokeswoman Lara Anton Said Last Week That Have Been Concentrated in A “Close-Knit, UnderVaccinated” Mennonitis Community-Spatially Among Families Who Attend Small Private Religious Schools or Are Homeschooled.
In New Mexico, All of the Are in Lea County, Which Borders Gaines County in Texas. The State Health Department has said people may have be Been Exhibit at the gracery store, an elementary school, church, nor-lea hospital and a Walgreens in hobbs, new Mexico.
What is measles?
Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 People who are susceptible will get the virus if exhibited, ACCORDING TO THE US CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION.
Most Kids Will Recover from the measles if they get it, but infection can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.
Is the Vaccine Safe?
Yes, the Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) VACCINE IS SAFE AND HIGHLY Effective in Preventing Measles Infection and Severe Cases of the Disease.
The First Shot is Recommended for Children Between 12 and 15 Months Old and the Second Between 4 and 6 Years Old. The Vaccine Series is Required for Kids Before Entering Kindergarten in Public Schools Nationwide.
Before The Vaccine was introduced in 1963, the US Saw disappears 3 milion to 4 milion Cases per year. Now, it’s usually fewer than 200 in a normal Year.
There is the Between the Vaccine and Autism link, Profit Now-Discredited Study and Health Disinformation.
Why Vaccinal Rates Matter?
In Communities with High Vaccination Rates – Obove 95% – Padings Like Measles have the Harder Time Spreading through communities. This is Called “Herd Immunity.”
But Childhood Vaccination Rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parent are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from refied shots.
The US Saw A Rise in Measles Cases in 2024, Including an Outbreak in Chicago That Sicked More Than 60. Five Years Earlier, Measles Cases Were the Worst In Altost Three Decades In 2019.
Gaines County has one of the Highest Rates in Texas of School-Aged Children who opt out of at Least One Required Vaccine, with Nearly 14% of K-12 Children in the 2023-24 School Year. Health Officials Say That Number is Likely Higher Because it Doesn’t Include Many Children who are Homeschooled and Whinse Data Wild not be be reported.
What Are Public Health Officials Doing to Stop the Spread?
Health Workers Are Hosting Regular Vaccination Clinic and Screening Efforts in Texas, WELL AS WITCHING with Schools to Education People About The Importance of Vaccination and Offering Shots.
New Mexico Health Officials are also hosting Several Vaccination Clinics in Hobbs Next Week.
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