The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles primarily in West Texas.
·At this time, 709 cases have been confirmed since late January. This is an increase of 7 since the May 6 update.
·Less than one percent, or fewer than 10 of the confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was less than a week ago.
·Individuals are infectious four days prior to and four days after rash onset.
Ninety-two of the patients have been hospitalized. This number is the total number of people hospitalized over the course of the outbreak. It is not the current number of people in the hospital.
There have been two fatalities in school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area. The children were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.
Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities.
Based on the most recent data, DSHS has identified designated outbreak counties with ongoing measles transmission: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum. Garza and Lynn counties have been removed from the list of designated outbreak counties because it has been 42 days, or two incubation periods, since the last case was infectious.
DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
Cases by counties are as follows: Lamb County has one confirmed case; Hockley County has three confirmed case; Cochran County has 14 confirmed cases; Lubbock County has 51 confirmed cases; Andrews County has three confirmed cases; Bailey County has two confirmed cases; Borden County has one confirmed case; Brown County has one confirmed case; Dallam County has seven confirmed cases; Dawson County has 26 confirmed cases; Eastland County has two confirmed cases; Ector County has 11 confirmed cases; El Paso has 50 confirmed cases; Erath has one confirmed case; Gaines has 403 confirmed cases; Garza has two confirmed cases; Hale has six confirmed cases; Hardeman has one confirmed case; Lamar has 19 confirmed cases; Lynn has two confrimed cases; Martin has three confirmed cases; Midland has three confirmed cases; Parmer has five confirmed cases; Potter has two confirmed cases; Randall has one confirmed case; Reeves has one confirmed case; Terry has 60 confirmed cases; Upshur has five confirmed cases; and Yoakum County has 20 confirmed cases; Total number of cases are 709.
Age ranges for the reported cases are as follows: There are 210 cases are between zero and four-years-old;” There are 257 cases are between five and 17-years-old;” There are 223 cases are 18-years-old or higher; and” Nineteen cases are pending.” Vaccination status of the confirmed cases shows 679 cases unvaccinated or unknown, 13 are vaccinated with at least one dose, and 17 vaccinated with at least two doses.
The unvaccinated or unknown category includes people with no documented doses of measles vaccine more than 14 days before symptom onset.
Information is updated on Tuesday’s and Friday’s on the DSHS website.” S PA RTA N Public Transportation has partnered with the Texas Department of State Health Services to host a free measles vaccination clinic and testing site at the SPARTAN facility in Levelland.”This collaborative initiative will offer measles vaccines to residents across the South Plains area regardless of income or insurance coverage.
The vaccine clinic began March 31, every Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the SPARTAN Transportation facility, located at 1105 TX- 114 in Levelland.
The clinic is open to all members of the community until April 14th. No appointments are necessary; walk-ins are welcome, and all vaccines will be administered by certified healthcare professionals from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
The SPARTAN facility is not unfamiliar with hosting an event of this magnitude. In 2021, the facility opened its doors to the public to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic in conjunction with its ribbon cutting. Similarly, last year after the May 28 and 29 storms that caused widespread damage in Hockley County, the SPARTAN crew opened their doors once again as a response center for residents who lost power.
“We are excited to partner with DSHS to provide this important health service at this crucial time,” said Brian Baker, Director of SPARTAN Public Transportation. “Whether we are providing rides or sharing our space, we operate every day under the certainty that our modern, multi-purpose assets make us ready to adapt and respond to the unknown.” added Baker.
Details of the clinic include:” No appointment necessary, walkins are welcome.” No cost associated as the clinic services are free.” Parking will be on the East side of the facility, pull up to an orange cone and wait in your vehicle for a worker to come assist you.”
Residents are encouraged to bring any necessary documentation, such as previous vaccination records, but it is not required.”
For more information about the clinic or public transportation services call, (806) 894-3800.