A day care center in a Texas county, which is currently experiencing a widespread measles outbreak, has reported several cases among children, some of whom are too young to have completed their full vaccination series, according to public health officials. The outbreak in West Texas, which began in late January, has resulted in 505 reported cases by Tuesday, leading the state to expand the outbreak area to encompass 10 counties. This highly infectious virus has also been reported in nearby states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, as well as Mexico.
The outbreak has resulted in the deaths of three unvaccinated individuals due to measles-related illnesses this year, which includes two children of elementary school age in Texas. The second of these tragic deaths occurred on Thursday at a hospital in Lubbock. In response, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. attended the funeral in Seminole, the focal point of the outbreak.
As of the latest reports, seven cases have emerged at a day care where one infected child transmitted the virus to two others, subsequently spreading it to several classrooms, according to Katherine Wells, Director of Public Health in Lubbock. “Measles is extremely contagious,” Wells cautioned, expressing concerns that it might spread to other facilities. The recommended measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is typically administered in two doses—the first between 12 and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years.
Maegan Messick, co-owner of Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, which is at the center of the outbreak, shared with KLBK-TV in Lubbock that they are implementing safety measures. This includes isolating children who are too young to be vaccinated. “We’ve strived to be very transparent,” she told the station. Wells noted that over 200 children attend the day care, most of whom have received at least one vaccine dose. However, she admitted, “some children with only one dose have contracted the illness.”
Public health officials are advocating that children with just one vaccine dose get their second dose sooner than scheduled. They also revised recommendations, urging that children in Lubbock County get their first vaccine at 6 months rather than a year. For unvaccinated children attending the day care, a mandatory 21-day isolation following their last exposure is in effect.
The number of cases and hospitalizations have consistently risen since the outbreak’s onset. Between March 28 and April 4, cases increased by 81. On Tuesday, the state recorded an additional 24 cases and incorporated two new counties, Borden and Randall, into the outbreak watchlist, with total hospitalizations reaching 57. Gaines County has been most affected, primarily due to a close-knit Mennonite community, reporting 328 cases, more than any other county by a large margin, followed by Terry County with 46, and Lubbock County with 36.
Vaccination rates for kindergartners in these areas vary, with Texas Department of State Health Services indicating that Gaines County has an 82% vaccination rate, well under the 95% required to prevent widespread community transmission. Terry County boasts a 96% vaccination rate, with Lubbock County at 92%. However, this data doesn’t take into account children who are homeschooled or those in some private schools, where initial outbreak cases were found.
Amidst these developments, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been coordinating with Texas officials to decide on the number of personnel needed for support. A CDC representative anticipates a small team to be deployed this week, with additional reinforcements to follow. Prior CDC engagements included a team that was on-site from early March to April 1, just days before the death of a second child in the outbreak.
A spokesperson for Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced that the governor and first lady are offering their “deepest prayers” to the affected families and communities. The state health department has dispatched epidemiologists, immunization teams, and specimen collection units to bolster local response efforts.