At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

Summary

A measles outbreak in rural West Texas has surged to 49 confirmed cases, mostly among unvaccinated school-age children, with officials suspecting hundreds more unreported infections.

The outbreak is centered in Gaines County, home to a large Mennonite population with low vaccination rates. Despite CDC support, Texas has not requested federal intervention.

The outbreak has now spread to Lubbock, raising wider public health concerns.

Experts warn it could persist for months without increased vaccination efforts, but skepticism toward vaccines remains a significant barrier.

  • Professorozone@lemmy.world
    2·
    6 days ago

    Well for crying out loud… That’s me. I don’t live in Texas but I live in the next worst state, Florida. Is there a booster?

    • threshold_dwellerEnglish
      4·
      6 days ago

      Ask your doctor for the MMR vaccine. Iirc you are more likely to get side-effects as an adult, but that beats getting measles.

      • Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world
        2·
        5 days ago

        I redid my entire childhood vaccinations at age 40 because my small home town had no records and I needed proof - to like, look after sick people. No problems, no side effects.

        You can get MMR at travel clinics around here. So it cost me like $15 to avoid even needing to ask a doctor.

        Sigh.