Measles outbreak in Texas

A measles outbreak in Texas has surpassed 600 confirmed cases this year with nearly 30 new infections reported since April 18 via a statement from the State Health Department.

A majority of confirmed cases occurred in children and teenagers with 186 cases reported in children four years old. The agency noted that 96 percent of the country’s measles cases were in patients who either had not been vaccinated or had an unknown status.

Measles is “Highly Contagious” and can spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes the CDC said. People can also be infected by breathing contaminated air, where it remains infectious for up to two hours or by touching their mouth, eyes or nose after contact with a contaminated surface. Symptoms appear seven to 14 days after contact with the virus and commonly include high fever, cough, running nose and watery eyes according to the CDC.

A measles rash appears three to five days after onset of the first symptoms. Two doses of the MMR vaccine provides 97 percent protection against the virus, according to the CDC. Adults born before 1957 are presumed to have acquired immunity as they most likely had measles during childhood according to the National Foundation for Infection Disease.