Measles outbreak: 146 cases reported in Texas following death of unvaccinated child
LUBBOCK, Texas -- In its latest update, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said the measles outbreak has increased to 146 cases.
Lubbock had two cases of measles reported. The City of Lubbock was scheduled to provide updates during a virtual news conference on Friday morning. A live video player will be added to this story.
DSHS said 20 patients were hospitalized. There was one fatality confirmed in an unvaccinated school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. Officials could not specify the exact age of the child who passed, or if they suffered any underlying health issues.
According to the latest update, 79 people who had measles were not vaccinated. The report said 62 had "unknown status" and five people were vaccinated with at least one dose. DSHS said it is looking into the cases who were classified as vaccinated.
According to DSHS, the best way to prevent getting sick is to get two doses of a measles vaccine.
Here are the cases in each Texas county:
- Dallam – 4
- Dawson – 8
- Ector – 2
- Gaines – 98
- Lubbock – 2
- Lynn – 2
- Martin 3
- Terry – 21
- Yoakum – 6
Here are the age ranges of the measles cases:
- 0 to 4 years – 46 cases
- 5 to 17 years – 70 cases
- 18 and up – 25 cases
Information for five were still pending.
As of Friday morning, there were still nine cases in Lea County, New Mexico.
Here are some symptoms to look out for that appear seven to 21 days after contact with the virus:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- 2-3 days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth.
- 3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash that appears flat anon d red may appear on the face and hairline. This rash tends to spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
What to do if exposed or symptomatic:
- Isolate yourself immediately to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Contact your healthcare provider by phone to arrange testing in a way that minimizes exposure to others (do not show up unannounced).
- Watch for symptoms, which typically develop 7 to 21 days after exposure.
- Citizens who have questions about what they should do can also call Lubbock Public Health at 806-775-2933.
What to do if you need immediate medical care:
- Follow any signage on facility doors.
- Take protective measures such as wearing a mask when you enter the facility.
- Call the facility when you arrive and inform the front desk that you think you may have measles or if you’ve been around someone with confirmed measles.
- Limit the number of people who enter the facility. If possible, send one person inside to register.
When to seek immediate emergency care:
- High fever (over 103°F).
- Severe cough or difficulty breathing.
- Signs of severe complications like seizures, confusion, or extreme fatigue/weakness.
- Dehydration.