A measles outbreak in West Texas has reached over 500 cases, including multiple instances at a day care facility in Lubbock. The highly contagious virus began spreading in late January and has now spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Mexico.
As of Friday, there were seven cases at Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, where one infected child spread the disease to two others before it reached other classrooms. Public health officials are taking precautions by isolating young children who cannot receive the vaccine until they turn 12-15 months old or get a second dose between 4-6 years old.
The public health department recommends that unvaccinated children attend day care for at least 21 days after their last exposure. With case numbers steadily rising, the Texas Department of State Health Services has expanded its outbreak area to include 10 counties.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), vaccination rates in affected areas are low. Gaines County’s rate is 82%, while Terry County’s rate is 96%. The CDC will send a small team to assist with the response, followed by a larger group next week.
Source: https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-day-care-lubbock-3d90c3ea9050c12dbc74a8f8142a6355