Measles Outbreak in West Texas

Due to the decrease in vaccinations in a county in west Texas, a measles outbreak has been primarily affecting children; at least 49 have caught the virus. But before we jump into that, what is the measles? The measles is a very contagious disease that can be passed through the air, leading to various problems and, in some cases, resulting in death. While it is most common in kids, anyone who is unvaccinated against the disease or for whom the vaccine did not work can be affected. Typical symptoms include a fever, runny nose, white spots inside your cheeks, and rashes across the body. It is not to be taken lightly, considering that it resulted in over 107,000 deaths in 2023. Regarding the new outbreak, most of the cases have been found within Gaines County, which, in recent years, shows data that 18% of students are abstaining from taking the vaccine. Although Texas has mandated its public school students to be up to date on all of their vaccines, parents can opt their children out of receiving them for religious reasons; a little over 13% of students did not get vaccinated, resulting in contagious diseases like this being spread from one person to another.

Works Cited

Edwards, Erika, et al. "In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight." NBC News, 14 Feb. 2025, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/measles-outbreak-west-texas-grows-unvaccinated-rcna192163. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

"Measles." World Health Organization, www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.

Rosenbluth, Teddy. "Measles Outbreak Hits Town in Texas." New York Times, 12 Feb. 2025, www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/science/measles-vaccination-texas.html. Accessed 17 Feb. 2025.