The nation’s measles total has reached 607 cases today, with a surge of new cases in several states, including west Texas. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there were 124 new cases reported over the past week.
A nationwide outbreak is ongoing, fueled by low vaccine uptake in some areas and increased global spread of the virus. The CDC reports that 22 jurisdictions have been affected so far, with 21 states and New York City included in the count.
Texas has seen a significant spike, reporting 481 cases to date, with 59 new cases reported today. Most cases are linked to an outbreak in Gaines County, but some have been reported in central Texas counties like Brown and Erath.
The CDC says that 97% of measles patients were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses, while 74 (12%) have been hospitalized. The nation is on track to surpass the 1,274 cases reported in 2019.
New developments include a confirmed case in Harris County, Texas, which has not been linked to the west Texas outbreak yet. In New Mexico, six more cases were reported, bringing the total to 54. Oklahoma’s total remains at 10, while Tennessee has seen three new cases, with one linked to an existing case.
The CDC emphasizes that outbreaks can occur in states not directly linked to the Texas event. The nation is battling its worst measles spike since 2019, and experts warn of the ongoing threat to measles elimination status.
Source: https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/measles/us-measles-total-tops-600-cases-almost-500-texas