A staff member at Canyon Intermediate School has been diagnosed with measles, marking the first case in the Texas panhandle since January’s outbreak. The infected employee left campus on March 26 and is not currently contagious.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can lead to severe illness, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. As of Friday, there have been 481 confirmed cases in Texas, with smaller numbers reported in New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The best protection against measles is the MMR vaccine. The virus spreads through direct contact or airborne transmission, remaining infectious for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Symptoms typically appear within 7-21 days of exposure and include a rash. People with measles are contagious from four days before their symptoms appear until four days after the onset of the rash.
If you suspect you’ve been exposed or have measles symptoms, isolate yourself and call your healthcare provider to schedule testing without exposing others. Amarillo Public Health recommends an early MMR dose for infants aged 6-11 months due to the ongoing outbreak. Report suspected cases to (806) 378-6321 or visit amarilloalerts.com.
Source: https://abc7amarillo.com/news/local/canyon-isd-confirms-first-potterrandall-county-measles-case-is-within-their-district