HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — Houston well being officers introduced that there’s a third confirmed case of measles in our space.
The case entails an unvaccinated toddler who was uncovered to measles throughout worldwide journey. The newborn is reportedly recovering at dwelling after being launched from the hospital.
The Houston Well being Division says the toddler’s sickness will not be associated to 2 measles circumstances reported within the metropolis in January or the measles outbreak in West Texas.
The January circumstances had been the primary two circumstances reported in our space since 2018.
The state well being division experiences that the West Texas outbreak has grown to 259 circumstances. One school-aged baby has died and 34 different sufferers required hospitalization.
READ MORE: Measles circumstances attain almost 300 complete in Texas and New Mexico. This is what you must know
Though measles was declared eradicated within the U.S. in 2000, worldwide journey nonetheless poses dangers.
“We must always completely be involved. We had been following the scenario in 2024 and what we’re seeing is that that is the best variety of circumstances within the final 25 years. We see about 60% of these circumstances being hospitalized and 40% of these circumstances are youngsters below 5 years of age, which suggests they’re probably the most weak youngsters that we have to defend,” mentioned Fatmia Cegic, the UNICEF immunization specialist for Europe and Central Asia.
The measles outbreak has now unfold to 11 Texas counties, based on the Texas Division of State Well being Companies. Just lately, the outbreak was linked to a dying in New Mexico and circumstances in Oklahoma, based on experiences issued by well being departments in every state.
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Measles is without doubt one of the most contagious viruses on the earth. An contaminated particular person can unfold it to as much as 9 out of 10 individuals round them if these individuals aren’t vaccinated. Measles may also linger within the air for as much as two hours.
It spreads by respiratory droplets from coughing and sneezing. Signs usually seem 7 to 14 days after publicity and embrace excessive fever, cough, runny nostril, purple eyes, and a particular rash. Critical problems can happen, particularly in younger youngsters and people with weakened immune methods.
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