Measles and Community Health
The Texas Department of State Health Services [DSHS] reported a measles outbreak in Gaines County on Feb. 6.
Measles is a highly contagious upper respiratory virus that can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant moms, infants, and young children. Last week, six school-aged children contracted measles, according to DSHS. On Feb. 11 the number increased to 24 cases, all residents of Gaines County.
Mary Suzanne Whitworth,M.D, medical director of Infectious Diseases at Cook Children’s, explained that DSHS puts out health alerts to notify physicians about disease outbreaks so they are aware of local patterns and can recognize cases.
Cook Children’s Health Care System has not reported any measles cases.
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after infection. They can include:
- Fever, sometimes over 104º Fahrenheit or 40 º Celsius
- Runny nose
- Cough
- Red, watery eyes
- Sore throat
- Tiredness
Following the initial symptoms, a rash will develop that starts on the forehead and spreads down the body and out to the hands and feet.
Measles can make individuals more susceptible to ear infections, croup, and severe bronchopneumonia. Long-term complications, including debilitating neurological conditions like subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), can also occur, said Marc Mazade, M.D., medical director of infection prevention and control.
Pregnant women are significantly more likely to be hospitalized, develop a secondary pneumonia, or even die, explained Alice Phillips, M.D., Director of Ambulatory Quality and Safety. Equally at risk is their unborn child. First, there is an increased risk of spontaneous loss of the pregnancy. If born after exposure, the infants can suffer from heart problems, cataracts, developmental delays, deafness, or learning disabilities.
Protect yourself
“The good news is that vaccination against measles virus induces strong protection from serious infection in as few as 3 days,” Dr. Mazade said.
The first MMR vaccine is typically given to kids at 12 months, with a booster at 4 years old.
The patients in Gaines County are unvaccinated, according to DSHS. Nine patients have been hospitalized.
“Face-to-face exposure is not required to transmit measles,” said Dr. Mazade.
The virus spreads through infectious respiratory droplets and airborne transmission (from coughing or sneezing), where tiny droplets can remain suspended in the air. Measles is highly contagious; one infected person can potentially infect 12 to 18 unvaccinated individuals.
Although there have been no measles cases reported at Cook Children’s Medical Centers in Fort Worth and Prosper, Dr. Phillips, noted a decrease in childhood immunization rates.
The decline in immunizations is attributed to several factors like missed doctor visits during the pandemic, parental concerns, misinformation, and other factors.
Dr. Phillips said parental concerns for the vaccine range from pain to questions surrounding the complex science of vaccines.
“Vaccines must traverse an intense approval process before going to market and ongoing safety monitoring occurs through four major vaccine safety surveillance systems,” said Dr. Phillips. She adds Cook Children’s doctors are willing to answer any questions.
Dr. Mazade encourages parents who have postponed the vaccination of their children to call their primary care doctor. Pregnant woman cannot receive the measles vaccine, if concerned they should reach out to their provider.
If a parent suspects their child may have measles, they should call the primary care doctor before arriving at the office so arrangements can be made for safety and to minimize potential exposure in the waiting room.
About Cook Children's
Cook Children’s is more than a health care system: we strive to be an extension of your family, growing with your child from their first steps to adulthood. By collaborating to deliver on our Promise—to improve the well-being of every child in our care and our communities, we connect the dots for our patients. Between primary and specialty. Between home and medical home. Between short-term care and long-term health.
Based in Fort Worth, Texas, we’re 10,000+ dedicated team members strong, passionately caring for over 2 million patient encounters each year. Our integrated, not-for-profit organization spans two medical centers (including our state-of-the-art location in Prosper), two surgery centers, a physician network, home health services and a health plan. It also includes Child Study Center at Cook Children's, Cook Children's Health Services Inc., and Cook Children's Health Foundation. In 2024, Forbes named Cook Children’s the top health care employer in the U.S., and third on the list of ‘America’s Best Large Employers.’
And our impact extends beyond the borders of Texas. We proudly treat children from virtually every state in the nation and 32 countries. By seeing the world through the eyes of children and their families from all backgrounds, we’re able to shape health care suited to them: connected by kindness, imagination and respect—with an extra dose of magical wonder.
Discover more at cookchildrens.org.
