Spreading measles in Texas continues to increase, with occasions now reported in South Plains … [+]
The spread of measles in West Texas has now reached 124 cases, according to data issued Tuesday by the State Health Services Department in Texas. This is an increase of 66 cases Since Tuesday Last. Eighty cases have been reported in the Gaines District and 21 cases have been reported on Terry County. Additional cases have been reported in Dallam, Dawson, Ecttor, Lubbock, Lynn, Martin and Yoakum. Thirty nine of the cases were in children under the age of five, while 62 cases were in people between the ages of 5 and 17 years. One hundred and nineteen cases occurred in people who were not vaccinated or their vaccine status was unknown. New Mexico public health officials reported nine cases in that state, all within the Lea district. Although the Lea District limits the Gaines District, it has not yet been shown that both explosions are connected.
This explosion will continue to spread to the site and can spread more widely. Indeed, public health officials on Monday issued an alarm for people in Texas south-central. A person from Gaines District visited Texas State University, UT San Antonio and several other public places in San Marcos and San Antonio between February 14 and 16 February. That individual was then diagnosed with measles. In the TDSHS warning, officials note that the person was contagious during their journey and may have exposed other individuals in the virus. People who may have been exposed should monitor their conditions, especially if they are not vaccinated.
The measles vaccine, administered as part of the rubella vaccine of measles, is Very safe and very effective. Indeed, public health officials announced in 2000 that widespread vaccination ended the steady broadcast of measles in the United States. Now only sporadic outbursts occur.
However, the vaccine does not provide 100% protection. Studies have shown that it is about 97% effective, but what does it really mean? Basically, people who are vaccinated are 97% less likely than people who are not vaccinated to get measles, assuming that people in both groups are similarly exposed. Let’s look at it in another way. If 100 people in an unprecedented group develop measles, then only 3 people in a vaccinated group should develop measles. And vaccinated patients tend to have softer symptoms and are less likely to transmit the virus to others.
Of course, numerous factors, including the basic health of an individual, the age of a person or the extension of exposure all can affect the outcome in a specific person. But the general tendency holds. This vaccine is extremely effective.
However, there is a risk for vaccinated people. For example, about 5% of patients on a A great blast that occurred in 2018 in New York City were vaccinated. And although most cases in Texas have occurred in non -vaccinated people, five cases have been reported in vaccinated individuals.
Increasingly, vaccine deniers are using a “personal choice” framework to argue against vaccine requirements. Indeed, when asked about vaccines in 2024, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.Now the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services stated that, “People can make individual assessments if that product will be good for them.” But it’s not simple. A person’s decision to give up a safe and effective vaccine can affect many people in tragic ways. Reduce vaccination levels adversely affects us all.