News of the first death from the West Texas measles outbreak was released today; the victim was an unvaccinated school-age child. As it stands now, 124 people have been officially diagnosed as having measles in West Texas. It is unknown how many more are currently infected, either experiencing mild cases or not seeking healthcare due to financial or other constraints. More than 18 children have been hospitalized in West Texas, most due to difficulty breathing. Officials in Texas reported this weekend that an individual who tested positive for measles in West Texas traveled to two universities around San Antonio and spent time at the busy tourist attraction, The San Antonio River Walk.
measles
What Texas’ Measles Outbreak Could Mean for Colorado Kids
On Friday, Texas public health officials estimated that a measles outbreak had likely spread to between 200-300 people, across five counties in the western area of the state. Then, on Sunday night, word started coming out about three cases in Eastern New Mexico. Given measles is one of the most infectious diseases known to humankind, and that it takes 7-14 days for symptoms to become apparent, it’s possible that by next Sunday, more than a thousand people will be sick and the outbreak will have crossed more state boundaries.
Records Show Over Half the Kids at Some Colorado Schools Aren’t Vaccinated
If you’ve been following the effort at Colorado’s Capitol to make it more difficult for parents to opt their kids out of school immunization requirements, you’re likely aware that the state has some of the lowest vaccination rates in the nation.