Key Takeaways:
– Measles cases are rising in Texas, with at least four cases reported in under two weeks.
– First cases of measles are being reported in some communities after more than 20 years.
– Two adult residents of Harris County and two school-aged children from the South Plains region are the confirmed cases.
– Both adults from Harris County, who live in the same household, and the two children were unvaccinated against measles.
– State health agencies warn that measles can have serious health outcomes, particularly for young and unvaccinated individuals.
– The escalating number of measles cases is concerning as measles vaccination rates among kindergarteners drop.
– Texas lawmakers are currently trying to weaken vaccine mandates, leading to fears that disease trends may worsen.
Measles Cases Emerge After a Two-decade Respite
Lone Star State is now on high alert! Texas has noticed a sudden surge of measles. Health agencies are particularly rattled as at least four cases have been identified in less than two weeks. What’s more surprising is this distressing development is unfolding in communities where no cases of measles have been reported for over two decades.
Vaccine Hesitation Contributes to The Outbreak
The confirmed cases of measles involve two adults from Harris county and two school-aged children from the South Plains region. Both adults, who happen to reside in the same household, and the children were unvaccinated against measles. The decline in vaccination rates is considered to be a critical factor behind this unexpected upswing in cases.
Understanding The Disease
Measles is a highly infectious illness that spreads through the air and impacts unvaccinated individuals significantly. Usual symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a full-body rash.
The impact of the disease is grave, especially on unvaccinated or young individuals, including potentially severe health complications and in extreme cases, death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 5 unvaccinated people in the U.S. who contract measles will land up in a hospital. It gets graver when it comes to children. For every 1,000 infected children, up to three may die due to respiratory and neurologic complications caused by measles.
Tracing The Exposure
Authorities believe that the confirmed cases among the adults were a result of international travel. A list of potential exposure locations and dates has been released to alert the public. In the case of the children from the South Plains region, they were hospitalized but have since been discharged. As of now, no known sites of exposure outside the health care facility where they were tested have been identified.
Vaccination Rates Tumble
The sudden resurgence of measles in Texas coincides with the falling measles vaccination rate among kindergarteners. The rate dropped from nearly 97% during the 2019-2020 school year to 94.3% in 2023-24. Texas, unfortunately, belongs to a majority of states that have seen a reduction in vaccination rates since the pandemic outset.
Blast From The Past: Resurgence of Old Diseases
Another grim reality is the comeback of other diseases thought to be a part of the past. Whooping cough is returning to pre-pandemic levels and even polio manifested itself in New York State’s wastewater in 2022. Measles, officially eradicated from the United States in 2000 due to the vaccination program, is also making a worrying comeback.
The vaccination program advises two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine: the first dose between 12 to15 months of age and next between 4 to 6 years old. One dose is about 93% effective at preventing measles, while two doses increase the effectiveness to approximately 97%.
Legislative Hurdles To Vaccination
Despite the rise in cases, legislators in Texas are working towards weakening vaccine mandates, which is stirring fear that these disease trends may worsen. Requests for exemption forms to the Texas Department of State Health Services have dramatically increased since 2018, with a recorded jump from 45,900 to over 93,000 in 2024. Along with this, more than 20 vaccination-related bills are making their way through the legislative process, including one proposing an amendment to the Texas Constitution preserving the right to refuse vaccination.
From a public health perspective, these developments are deeply worrying. Vaccinations are our best defense against preventable diseases like measles. Ensuring that we and our children remain up-to-date with vaccinations is not just about personal protection but about safeguarding the most vulnerable members of our community as well. As the recent rise in measles cases in Texas illustrates, letting our guard down can have serious repercussions.