Texas declares its measles outbreak, which killed 2 and sickened 762, is over
The Texas measles outbreak that affected 762 individuals since late January has officially come to an end, as confirmed by state health officials on Monday.
Health authorities have not reported any new cases in the counties where the outbreak occurred for more than 42 days, meeting the criteria for declaring measles outbreaks over. The most recent outbreak-related case in Texas was recorded on July 1, according to state data.
Tragically, two young children in Texas lost their lives to the virus earlier this year, and a total of 100 people were hospitalized during the outbreak. The cases were initially linked to outbreaks in Canada and Mexico before spreading to other states in the U.S.
State officials have stated that they will continue to monitor for any potential new cases. Prior to the outbreak, measles was a rare occurrence in the state, with most doctors having little to no experience treating the illness, said Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Shuford.
Shuford attributed the containment of the outbreak to a combination of testing, vaccination efforts, monitoring, and education.
“I want to recognize the dedicated work of the public health professionals throughout the state who played a crucial role in controlling the spread of one of the most contagious viruses,” Shuford expressed in a statement.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that manifests with a rash, respiratory symptoms, and can lead to severe complications or even death. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective preventive measure against measles and is recommended for young children before they begin school.
— Devi Shastri
The Associated Press Health and Science Department is supported by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is responsible for all content.
