Millions more at risk of world’s most infectious disease after patient visits second-largest Texas county
One of America’s largest counties is on red alert after a resident was diagnosed with measles, potentially exposing millions more to the deadly disease.
According to Dallas County Health and Human Services in Texas, the patient was a female in her mid-20s who was fully vaccinated but contagious from May 30 until June 7.
She is currently a resident of Dallas County, which is the the second-most populous county in Texas and the eighth-most populous in the US, with a population of over 2.6 million people.
The infected woman also traveled to the city of Plano, and she visited two businesses.
On May 31 between the hours of 9am to noon the infected woman visited Lemma Coffee in the downtown area and the next day, on June 1, she went to the First Baptist church from 1pm to 5:30pm.
Health officials said the woman has received care, and they are working to identify and notify individuals who may have been exposed.
According to DCHHS, this is an ongoing investigation of an isolated case because the source of the woman’s exposure to measles is not known.
However, the new case comes as Texas is battling a measles outbreak that has infected nearly 800 people and killed two children.
One of America’s biggest counties is on red alert after a resident was diagnosed with measles, potentially infecting others
Dallas officials are warning anyone who fears they may have been exposed to contact their health provider and monitor for symptoms in what is the latest in a string of measles scares to rock America’s major cities and travel hubs.
This is the first case in Dallas County amid a major outbreak across Texas. At this time, 744 cases have been confirmed in the state since late January.
Ninety-six of the patients have been hospitalized and there have been two fatalities in unvaccinated school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area.
Overall, in the US there have been 1,168 confirmed measles cases reported by 34 states and at least three deaths.
Measles is the world’s most contagious disease – infecting nine out of 10 people exposed – but those who are fully vaccinated are protected in 97 percent of cases.
The illness causes tiny white spots inside the mouth, flat red spots on the neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet, ear infections and a high fever.
If severe, it can lead to life-threatening pneumonia.
Children need two doses of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine: the first at age 12-15 months, and the second dose at age 4-6 years.
Babies ages 6-11 months should get an early dose if traveling internationally. Adults should also check to see if they are immune to measles.
About one to three in 1,000 people with measles dies of the illness.
Out of studied counties, 78 percent or 1,614 counties reported drops in MMR vaccination rates
Cold-like symptoms, such as a fever, cough and a runny or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles
In an updated advisory, the CDC is warning that people can get infected with measles during travel or at crowded events, unless they are fully vaccinated or have had the disease.
The notice reads: ‘Travelers can catch measles in many travel settings, including travel hubs like airports and train stations, on public transportation like airplanes and trains, at tourist attractions, and at large, crowded events.
‘Infected travelers can bring the disease back to their home communities where it can spread rapidly among people who are not immune.’
The government agency recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against measles before traveling to an international destination.
The last time measles was this rife in the US was in 2019, when there were 1,274 cases reported for the entire year.
Measles was officially eradicated in the US in 2000 amid a successful vaccination campaign.
At the time, the CDC described achieving measles elimination status in the US as a ‘historic public health achievement’.
However, a recent study found uptake of the vaccine among children declined in eight in 10 US counties last year, which is being signaled as the cause of the measles resurgence.
Overall, vaccine rates fell three percent across the country.
It means that 91 percent of children are vaccinated against measles, which is below the 95 percent needed to prevent the disease from spreading and causing deaths.
The Johns Hopkins University researchers warned that if vaccination rates continue to fall, measles is likely to return and become a common infection among Americans.
