I have seen a case of Measles, 30 years ago. Most physicians have not and that is good. Unfortunately, it has made a recurrence due to a drop in immunizations rates. That may also be part of the reason for the worst flu season in 15 years. Fewer people are getting vaccinated. Having said that, I know plenty of patients who have been vaccinated and still gotten it. In a good year, the vaccine is about 50% effective in reducing the risk of infection. With measles, the scary thing is that it is the most infectious respiratory infection and the children diagnosed were sick enough to warrant hospitalization.
Measles Outbreak Grows In West Texas Where Vaccination Rates Remain Low
CNN (2/7, McPhillips) reported, “A measles outbreak is growing in a rural area of West Texas where vaccination rates are well below the recommended level.” Near the end of last month, “two children in Gaines County were hospitalized for measles,” but “on Wednesday, the state health department shared in a health alert that the number of confirmed cases had grown to six.” By Friday afternoon, the outbreak had “jumped to 14 confirmed cases and six probable cases among people who are symptomatic and had close contact with infected individuals, Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, told CNN.” Investigations are still “ongoing, as cases have been identified in parts of the region that are outside the Gaines County lines where the first cases were reported.”
AND IN HOUSTON:
Texas Reports Four Measles Cases In Less Than Two Weeks
The Texas Tribune (1/30, Simpson, Lozano) says, “At least four cases of measles, including two involving school-aged children, have been reported in Texas in less than two weeks, putting state health agencies on alert.” Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Laura Anton “said the agency sent out an alert to health providers statewide once measles were confirmed to be found in two adult residents in Harris County last week.” According to the Tribune, “the alert stated that both individuals reside in the same household and were unvaccinated against measles.” These marked “the first confirmed cases of measles reported in Texas since 2023, when two were reported.”
The Dallas Morning News (1/30, Brindley) reports the other two measles cases were identified in “West Texas, both of them in unvaccinated school-age children.” The two “children, who reside in Gaines County, were both hospitalized in Lubbock, the Department of State Health Services announced on Thursday.” Both “have since been discharged from the hospital.”
Here are the guidelines on measles vaccination. Adults born before 1957 are considered to have immunity.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that children, teens, and adults get the MMR vaccine to protect against measles, mumps, and rubella. The MMR vaccine is safe, effective, and inexpensive.
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- Children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- The first dose should be given between 12 and 15 months of age.
- The second dose should be given between 4 and 6 years of age, but can be given earlier if it’s at least 28 days after the first dose.
- Children should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- Children can also receive the MMRV vaccine, which protects against measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (chickenpox).
Teens and adults
- Teens and adults should be up to date on their MMR vaccinations.
- Most adults only need one dose of the MMR vaccine, or other evidence of immunity.
- Healthcare professionals and international travelers should be especially sure to get the MMR vaccine.
- Infants 6–11 months old should get one dose of the MMR vaccine before traveling internationally.
- People with HIV infection should receive two doses of the MMR vaccine.
- People who are at higher risk of coming into contact with measles should consider getting an additional dose of the vaccine.
Just when I think the flu season has peaked, I get more calls. As it turns out this season was thought to have peaked earlier, but there has been a second surge. Sometimes this happens with a second strain, but this appears to be the same strain of Influenza A.
Current US Flu Season Is Most Intense In 15 Years, Data Show
The AP (2/7, Stobbe) reported, “The U.S. winter virus season is in full force, and by one measure is the most intense in 15 years.” According to the AP, “one indicator of flu activity is the percentage of doctor’s office visits driven by flu-like symptoms.” Two weeks ago, “that number was clearly higher than the peak of any winter flu season since 2009-2010, when a swine flu pandemic hit the nation, according to data posted Friday morning by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.”
Reuters (2/7, Erman) reported the CDC “said in its weekly flu surveillance report that seasonal influenza activity continues to increase across the country.” According to the “report, 7.8% of patient visits to outpatient facilities over the week ended February 1 were for influenza-like illnesses.” That figure “has risen steadily over the past two weeks, from 7% the week ended January 25 and 5.8% the week before that.”
