West Texas and New Mexico See Rise in Measles Cases

A significant measles outbreak in West Texas is nearing a count of 200 cases, as reported by Texas state health officials. Meanwhile, neighboring New Mexico has seen its cases soar to 30, a marked increase. The majority of infections in both states have been found predominantly in unvaccinated individuals or those whose vaccination status is not clearly documented and mostly affects those under 18.

Texas health authorities have recently identified 39 new cases of this highly infectious disease, bringing the total number of cases in the West Texas outbreak, which commenced in late January, to 198. So far, 23 individuals have required hospitalization due to the disease. In a solemn update, officials disclosed that a school-aged child in Texas succumbed to measles, marking the first measles-related death in the United States in ten years. In response, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced the deployment of a team to Texas to aid local public health efforts.

In New Mexico, health officials had previously maintained a stable count of cases in Lea County, located at the border with Texas, the center of the outbreak. On Friday, however, officials revealed a significant increase, with cases climbing from 14 in early February to 30 this week. A health department spokesperson suggested that more cases are likely and noted that many new reports were only recognized after patients had recovered. While a direct link to the Texas outbreak has not been confirmed, a potential connection has been “suspected” since mid-February.

Additionally, on Thursday, New Mexico officials confirmed an unvaccinated adult who died without seeking medical intervention was found to have measles. Although the formal cause of death has not been announced, authorities described it as “measles-related.”

While reports of measles cases have surfaced in diverse locations like Alaska, California, Florida, and New York City, the outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico account for a significant portion of the national tally. This rise in cases presents a challenge for the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Despite his history as an anti-vaccine advocate who questions the safety of vaccines, he recently stopped short of advising vaccinations and instead proposed alternative, unverified treatments such as cod liver oil.

Kennedy downplayed the Texas outbreak, suggesting it was not atypical. However, many local medical professionals in West Texas relayed that they had never encountered measles cases in their careers until this current scenario. The measles vaccine, along with mumps and rubella vaccination, is recognized as safe and extremely effective, with the first dose recommended for children aged 12 to 15 months and a second dose for those 4 to 6 years old.

Recently, a decline in childhood vaccination rates has been observed across the nation, with more parents seeking exemptions from mandatory school vaccinations for individual or religious reasons. In Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak majority was noted, the vaccination rate for measles among kindergarteners is just 82%, below the 95% threshold deemed necessary for outbreak prevention.

Notably, many incidents in Gaines County are linked to the “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite community, known for historically lower vaccination levels and occasional skepticism towards governmental regulations.

Measles is a respiratory illness that can linger airborne for up to two hours and can infect 9 out of 10 susceptible individuals if they come into contact with the virus. The success of vaccination campaigns had initially led to the United States declaring measles eradicated in 2000.