Health officials in Texas are warning of a growing measles outbreak in Gaines County, with 10 confirmed cases, including eight school-aged children and two under the age of five, all of whom were unvaccinated.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued an alert emphasizing the highly contagious nature of the disease, stating that additional cases are likely in Gaines County and surrounding areas.
So far, seven of the infected individuals have been hospitalized, raising concerns about the severity of the outbreak.
Measles, which was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, is making a resurgence nationwide, with cases in 2024 rising 17 times higher than the average seen in the first three months of the previous three years, according to the CDC.
Health officials stress that the best way to prevent infection is through vaccination. The MMR vaccine is recommended for children at 12 to 15 months old and again at 4 to 6 years old.
The measles virus spreads through airborne transmission and can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
DSHS urges immediate reporting of any suspected cases to local health departments.
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