Measles outbreak in Texas: started 24 cases, 9 hospitalized; now 400 cases. Would you recognize Measles?

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Measles outbreak in Texas: 24 cases, 9 hospitalized

El Paso Times  2/12/25

Measles outbreak in Texas: What to know about symptoms, treatment

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A measles outbreak is happening in Texas, and more cases are likely to occur due to how quickly the disease spreads, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Dept.

As of Tuesday, 24 cases were identified in Gaines County, with nine patients hospitalized. All of the cases are unvaccinated and residents of Gaines County, DSHS reported on Feb. 11.

More than half of the cases were children ages 5 to 18 years of age.

Gains County is located in the southern High Plains of West Texas and bordered on the west by New Mexico. DSHS is working with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak....

Info for nurses who have never seen this illness --- both my brother and I had measles in early 1960's after entering first grade prior to immunizations developed.

Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia : Measles/ Rubeola

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What are the symptoms of measles?

It may take between seven to 14 days for a child to develop measles symptoms after being exposed to the disease. It is important to know that a child is contagious four days before the onset of signs and symptoms and four days after the rash develops. Therefore, children may be contagious before they even know they have the disease.

During the early phase of the disease (which lasts between one and four days), symptoms usually resemble those of an upper respiratory infection, often making it difficult to diagnose in the early stages. The following are the common symptoms of measles. However, each child may experience symptoms differently. Symptoms may include:

• Runny nose
• Hacking cough
• Conjunctivitis (pink eye) 
• Fever
• Small spots with white centers (Koplik's spots) appear on the inside of the cheek (usually occur two or three days after symptoms begin)
• Rash. Deep, red, blotchy, flat rash that starts on the face and spreads down to the trunk, arms, legs, and feet. The rash starts as small distinct lesions, which then combine as one big rash. After three to seven days, the rash will begin to clear leaving a brownish discoloration and peeling skin.
• Severe diarrhea 

The most serious complications from measles include the following:

• Blindness
• Croup
• Ear infections
• Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
• Pneumonia

The symptoms of measles may resemble other skin conditions or medical problems. Always consult your child's doctor for a diagnosis.

 

 

What to Do If Your Child Gets the Measles  has info on natural remedies to help child..  I remember Mom giving us oatmeal baths helping the itch. and cooling fever along with weak tea to prevent dehydration --no pedialyte. Vitamin A recommended by WHO.  Karen

[Erin Lee, BSN, RN]

Thank you for sharing this @NRSKarenRN! Very timely and informative. Much appreciated

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

This measles outbreak # has DOUBLED in past week now 49 with 13 hospitalizations, extended into neighboring county in New Mexico with 3 cases to date; contact tracing ongoing.

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight

Health officials declare measles outbreak in southeastern New Mexico

 

[NutmeggeRN, BSN]

NRSKarenRN said:

This measles outbreak # has DOUBLED in past week now 49 with 13 hospitalizations, extended into neighboring county in New Mexico with 3 cases to date; contact tracing ongoing.

In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight

Health officials declare measles outbreak in southeastern New Mexico

 

🙁

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Increased cases today: Loss of heard immunity ( need > 90% children immunized to be effective) cited in news reports.  Immunization clinics ongoing in Texas.  Karen

Texas measles outbreak grows to 90 cases, largest in over 30 years

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Most of the cases are in children between ages 5 and 17.

...Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, and 16 people have been hospitalized so far, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Five cases included those who have been vaccinated.

Children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases with 51, followed by 26 cases among children ages 4 and under.

...Roughly 7.5% of kindergarteners had parents or guardians who filed for an exemption for at least one vaccine in 2013. Ten years later, that number rose to more than 17.5% -- one of the highest in all of Texas, according to state health data.

 

...

[Erin Lee, BSN, RN]

NRSKarenRN said:

Increased cases today: Loss of heard immunity ( need > 90% children immunized to be effective) cited in news reports.  Immunization clinics ongoing in Texas.  Karen

Texas measles outbreak grows to 90 cases, largest in over 30 years

...

Los of herd immunity. Yikes. 👎

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Update: 2/26/25 AP News

First measles death reported in Texas outbreak that's infected more than 120 people

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The measles outbreak in rural West Texas has grown to 124 cases across nine counties, the state health department said Tuesday. There are also nine cases in eastern New Mexico

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Measles numbers continue to climb in Texas and elsewhere in U.S. including one case in PA next county to me (child had traveled internationally).

39 new cases of measles reported in Texas as outbreak grows to 198

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...Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, with 80 unvaccinated and 113 of unknown status. At least 23 people have been hospitalized so far, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)...

A possible second measles death was recorded on Thursday after an unvaccinated New Mexico resident tested positive for the virus. The New Mexico Department of Health said the official cause of death is still under investigation....

The CDC has separately confirmed 164 cases in nine states so far this year in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island and Texas.   The total, however, is likely an undercount due to delays in reporting from states to the federal government....

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. Just one infected patient can spread measles to up to nine out of 10 susceptible close contacts, according to the CDC.

Health officials have been urging anyone who isn't vaccinated to receive the MMR vaccine.

 

 

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

More than 300 measles cases now reported nationwide in the US. ---while the disease was considered eradicated in 2000. Karen

Texas measles outbreak grows as US surpasses case count from 2024
 

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The measles outbreak in Texas has risen by 36 cases, pushing the US case count for the year past the number for all of 2024.

The outbreak of the highly contagious virus, which began in late January and is centered in the western part of the state, now stands at 259 cases, according to the latest update from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Of those patients, 257 are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, and 201 are children ages 17 or younger. Thirty-four patients have been hospitalized, with one death in an unvaccinated child who had no known underlying conditions.

Eleven counties to date have reported cases, but two thirds of the cases (174; 67%) are in Gaines County, which has one of the highest rates of school-aged children in Texas who have opted out of at least one vaccine. The county is home to a large Mennonite community with low vaccination rates....

..In New Mexico, meanwhile, the case count in that state's outbreak has grown by two and now stands at 35. Of those patients, 33 are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccine status. Thirty-three of the cases are in Lea County, which borders Gaines County in Texas, and 2 are in neighboring Eddy County.

Officials in both states say additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreaks because of the highly contagious nature of the disease and are urging people to get vaccinated. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective against measles.

 

 

[toomuchbaloney]

A couple of airports are known contact sites now.  

Too many Americans are complacent and susceptible to misinformation about vaccines.  

[Mommavik, ADN]

I saw on the news yesterday that there is a recommendation by the CDC that persons who were born between 1957 through 1968 be revaccinated due to "most born before this either had measles or were exposed and had natural immunity, those born after got a better vaccine. These born in those years got a vaccine that was proven not as effective" (I believe that was what was the rationale given)

[chare]

Mommavik said:

I saw on the news yesterday that there is a recommendation by the CDC that persons who were born between 1957 through 1968 be revaccinated ...

With measles in the news, adults are wondering, do I need a vaccine booster?

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[...]

But public health experts say there are some adults who should consider getting revaccinated. That includes older adults who were born after 1957 and were vaccinated before 1968.

That's because early versions of the measles vaccine were made from an inactivated (killed) virus, which didn't work particularly well, Offit says. That's why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that anyone vaccinated before 1968 get at least one dose of the live attenuated vaccine.

[...]