Measles shops in Texas continue to rise, according to public health officials. And there are worries … [+]
The outbreak of measles in West -Texas is now blogged to 124 cases, according to data released on Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services. This represents an increase of 66 cases Since last TuesdayAnd officials warn that the outbreak will continue to spread locally and spread more widely.
Indeed, public health officials published a warning for people in Monday South Central Texas. A resident of Gaines County, recently diagnosed with measles visited the Texas State University, UT San Antonio and various other public locations in San Marcos and San Antonio between February 14 and February 16. In the TDSHS -Alert officials brands that the person was contagious during the Times Trip and may have exposed other people to the virus. People who may have been exposed must follow their conditions, especially if they are not vaccinated.
There are 80 cases reported in Gaines County and 21 in Terry County. Extra cases have been reported in the provinces of Dallam, Dawson, Ector, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin and Yoakum. Thirty -nine of the cases have been in children under the age of 5, while 62 cases have been among people between 5 and 17 years old. People who were not vaccinated or whose vaccinstatus is unknown, explains 119 cases. Public health officials in New Mexico have reported nine things in that state, all in Lea County. Although Lea County Borders Gaines County, it has not yet been shown that the two outbreaks have been linked.
The measles vaccine, administered as part of measles -Bof Rubella -vaccine, is Very safe and very effective. Indeed, public health officials announced in 2000 that widespread vaccination ended the ongoing transfer of measles in the United States. Only sporadic outbreaks now occur.
However, the vaccine does not offer 100% protection. Studies have shown that it is about 97% effective, but what does that actually mean? In short, people who have been vaccinated have 97% less chance than people who have not been vaccinated to get measles, assuming that people in both groups are exposed in the same way. Let’s look at it in a different way. If 100 people develop measles in a non -vaccinated group, only three people have to develop in a vaccinated group of measles. And vaccinated patients usually have milder symptoms and are less likely to transfer the virus to others.
Of course, countless factors, including the underlying health of an individual, the age of a person or the size of exposure, can all influence the outcome with a specific person. But the general trend applies: this vaccine is incredibly effective.
Yet there is a risk for vaccinated people. For example about 5% of patients in one Great outbreak of 2018 in New York City were vaccinated. And although most cases have occurred in Texas in non -vaccinated people, five cases have been reported to vaccinated persons.
Increasingly, vaccine experts are using a “personal choice” framework to argue against vaccine requirements. When asked for vaccines in 2024, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.Now the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Human Services stated: “People can make individual reviews about whether that product will be good for them.” It’s not easy. The decision of one person to refrain from a safe and effective vaccine can influence several people in tragic ways, including infants who are too young to be vaccinated or people who are immunocompromous.
Lowering vaccination speeds influence us all.