fifteen Measles The cases-most of them in school-age children-were confirmed in a small province in West Texas with one of the highest rates Vaccine In the state.
Zac Holbrix, director of South Plans for Public Health, said on Monday that his ministry was first notified in late January about the first two cases in Genins, who said it was “two children who saw a doctor in Lubuk.”
Holbrox, who warned that the investigation was continuing.
“I will not say they are all connected, but our teams are looking at exposure sites and the background of these cases,” he said.
Local health officials established a car vaccination clinic last week and provided examination services to residents.
He saw the United States Height in measles in 2024Including the outbreak of Chicago who fell ill more than 60. This month, health officials in Atlanta Metro It works to contain the measles issue, which is spreading to two unitary family members.
Texas Law allows children to obtain a school vaccine exemption for conscience reasons, including religious beliefs. The percentage of children with exemptions over the past decade increased from 0.76 % in 2014 to 2.32 % last year, according to it. Health services data for the Ministry of State in Texas.
Gaines Province has one of the highest rates in Texas of school-age children who conclude from at least one required vaccine: approximately 14 % of children from kindergarten to 12 grades had an exemption in the academic year 2023-24 five times average Country is 2.32 % and after the national average of 3.3 %.
DSHS spokeswoman Lara Anton said that the number of non -fortified children in the province was significantly higher.
Measles, mumps and descriptions are a series of shot: the first state is recommended at the age of 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 to 6 years. The vaccine is required to attend most of the public schools in the United States
But vaccination rates have decreased in the country since the Covid-19 and most countries are lower than 95 % vaccination threshold for kindergarten – The necessary level to protect societies from the outbreak of measles. Located all over the country A proposal to change the various pollen requirements At a time when Robert F. awaits. Kennedy Junior, anti -vaccine activist, confirming as Minister of Health and Humanitarian Services.
Anton said that one of the early province of Jenus traveled to the neighboring New Mexico while it was still contagious, but there were no immediate reports on the infection. New Mexico’s health officials immediately did not respond to the comment.
Two cases of measles were reported in early January in the Houston region, but Holprox said that West Texas did not seem to be connected.
Measles are a very infection virus that can stay in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people likely to get the virus if they are exposed, According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before the vaccine in 1963, the United States witnessed about 3 million to 4 million cases per year. Now, it is usually less than 200 in a normal year.