Texas Measles Cases Hit Double Digits as Outbreak Continues to Raise Alarm [View all]
Source: Newsweek
Published Feb 08, 2025 at 6:14 PM EST
An outbreak of measles cases in Texas has hit double digits prompting the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to issue an alert on Friday. Newsweek has contacted the Texas Department of State Health Services via email for comment on Saturday afternoon.
Why It Matters
Measles, an airborne disease, is an extremely infectious illness that can be especially dangerous for infants, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, with the potential to cause serious and even deathly complications. It can spread rapidly in communities with low vaccination rates, and initially results in symptoms including a high fever, a cough, a runny nose, and red or watery eyes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Initial signs of the illness include flu-like traits, but can escalate into a distinctive red, blotchy rash that is highly infectious to those that haven't been vaccinated. According to the CDC, nearly 1 to 3 of every 1,000 children who become infected with measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
According to The Texas Tribute, for some communities in Texas, these are the first cases of measles in more than 20 years.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-measles-cases-hit-double-digits-outbreak-raises-alarm-2028348
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