😷 West Texas is currently battling a measles outbreak that's reached 48 cases, marking the worst surge in nearly three decades. Most of the affected individuals are children and teens 🏫.
Health officials report that those infected are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unclear. Thirteen cases have required hospitalization 🏥.
The outbreak is primarily concentrated within a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community in the highly rural Gaines County. Many families there opt for small private schools or homeschooling 📚.
\"The church isn't the reason that they're not vaccinated,\" said Lara Anton, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services. \"It's all personal choice and you can do whatever you want. It's just that the community doesn't go and get regular health care.\"
In response, the state is collaborating with local health officials to ramp up screening and vaccination campaigns. There's also an effort to educate school officials on spotting measles symptoms and encouraging vaccinations 💉.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 90% of susceptible individuals will contract the virus if exposed. Before the vaccine's debut in 1963, the U.S. faced 3 to 4 million cases annually. Today, it's usually under 200 cases each year.
The year 2024 has already seen a rise in measles cases across the U.S., including an outbreak in Chicago with over 60 cases 🌆.
Vaccination against measles involves a two-shot series and is required for most kindergarteners to enroll in public schools. However, Texas law permits exemptions for school vaccines based on personal beliefs, including religious ones. The rate of exemptions has increased from 0.76% in 2014 to 2.32% last year 📈.
Reference(s):
Measles outbreak in U.S. state hits 48 cases, worst in nearly 30 years
cgtn.com
