(Reuters) -The Texas health department on Friday reported 728 cases of measles in the state, up by six cases from its last update on Tuesday. In Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak in the state, the number of infections rose by two cases to 408 since the last update, the Texas Department of State […]
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Measles cases in Texas rise by six to 728, state health department says
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(Reuters) -The Texas health department on Friday reported 728 cases of measles in the state, up by six cases from its last update on Tuesday.
In Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak in the state, the number of infections rose by two cases to 408 since the last update, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
With the number of cases in the United States crossing 1,000 for the first time in five years, and three confirmed deaths, the country is tackling one of the worst measles outbreaks it has seen.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday reported 1,046 confirmed cases in 31 jurisdictions, as of May 22. Of these, 96% of cases were in patients who were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
The CDC count does not reflect the latest data from Texas.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne infection that can cause serious complications, such as pneumonia and encephalitis, and can lead to death.
Scientists have warned that the U.S. is at a tipping point for the return of endemic measles, declared eradicated nationally in 2000, and said public health officials should provide urgent endorsement for highly effective vaccines.
The measles vaccine is 97% effective after two doses, according to the CDC.
The outbreak in Texas has spread to neighboring states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas.
New Mexico’s health department reported 78 cases on Friday, an increase of four cases from its last update on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shreya Biswas and Shailesh Kuber)