HOUSTON — A measles outbreak in Texas has intensified, with the Texas Department of State Health Services now confirming 309 cases statewide since late January — up from 279 cases reported earlier this week.
The outbreak, which is largely concentrated in the South Plains and Panhandle regions, has resulted in 40 hospitalizations and one death, officials said Friday.
Health officials said there is one fatality that involved a school-aged child who was unvaccinated and had no known underlying health conditions. The child lived within the outbreak area.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,” DSHS said in a statement, adding that it continues to work closely with local health departments to investigate and contain the spread.
Breakdown of measles cases by age:
- 102 cases involve children ages 0 to 4
- 130 cases are in children 5 to 17
- 58 cases are in adults 18 and older
- 19 cases remain pending classification
Vaccination status:
Out of the 309 confirmed cases:
- 307 involved individuals who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status
- 2 cases occurred in individuals who had received two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine
Health experts continue to stress the importance of vaccination, especially as unvaccinated children remain the most affected group.
“For those uncertain about their vaccination status, a simple blood test can determine immunity,” said Dr. David Persse, Houston’s chief medical officer. “Getting vaccinated again is both safe and more cost-effective than testing.”
Persse noted that some areas of Houston may have MMR vaccination rates below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends children receive their first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months of age, with a second dose between 4 and 6 years. Children as young as 6 months may receive an early dose if necessary, though it does not count toward the two-dose series.
Officials say the DSHS and local health departments will continue monitoring the situation and encourage parents to ensure their children are vaccinated to help prevent further spread.