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LAMAR COUNTY, Texas — An East Texas county reported four measles cases directly linked to the outbreak in West Texas.
Health officials say the individuals, who were not vaccinated, traveled to Gaines County during the outbreak.
The Paris-Lamar County Health District is investigating the cases with the help of the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to identify exposures and limit the spread of the highly contagious disease.
Lamar County is northeast of Dallas, bordering Oklahoma. It's nearly 500 miles from Gaines County.
The outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico were up to over 250 cases as of Tuesday, March 11. A school-aged child died of measles in Texas last month, and an adult in New Mexico was infected with measles and died last week.
Measles has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000, but rising case numbers have caused worry.
“Measles is a serious yet preventable disease,” said Dr. Amanda Green, PLCHD local health authority. “Staying up to date on vaccinations is the most effective way to safeguard yourself, your loved ones, and the community from this highly contagious illness. With these recent cases, it’s more important than ever to ensure your immunizations are current.”
The most effective way to avoid getting measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
Symptoms of measles typically develop seven to 21 days after exposure. These include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash, typically starting on the face and spreading downward two to five days after initial symptoms
What to do if you’ve been exposed to measles:
- Isolate yourself immediately to prevent spreading the virus
- Contact your healthcare provider by phone to arrange testing
- Watch for symptoms
