A pediatrician who works in the heart of the Texas outbreak says that the country should expect that things will increase as more not -vaccinated people get infected.
So far there have been around 90 cases of the virus in the outbreak in the South Plains region, including 16 hospital admissions, all of whom are children. Only five of the infected were vaccinated against measles.
Dr. Lara Johnson, pediatrician and chief medical officer in the Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, Texas, said she saw the first measles store in her community about a month ago.
Now she warns that this is just the start of the outbreak and 'we will see much more disease in the coming months with non -vaccinated children. '
Dr. Johnson revealed that most young patients are admitted to the hospital for breathing difficulties and need additional oxygen, while others have a very high fever that can be fatal in young children.
The outbreak is the largest in the state in almost 30 years and is concentrated in what the Texas Department of State Health Services called a close, insufficient vaccinated 'Mennonite community. It has also spread to New Mexico, with nine cases that are currently confirmed.
The measles vaccine (MMR) is 97 percent effective as the prevention of the virus and is required for children to go to school, but some states allow exemptions based on religious reasons.
Throughout the country, the percentage of Children looking for exemptions has risen Over the past decade, from 0.76 percent in 2014 to 3.3 percent during the 2023-2024 school year.
A pediatrician who works in the heart of the Texas measles outbreak has unveiled some of her insights, because the highly contagious disease continues to tear by the state
According to the CDC, the vaccination coverage among toddlers fell for all shots in 2024 – to 93 percent for MMR.
In the meantime, the Texas Department of Human and Health Services reports 91 percent of the children received the MMR shot, which is under the ideal vaccination rate.
Ninety-four percent coverage is considered the standard for herd immunity.
Dr. Johnson says she feels 'happy' because her two children are older and have been vaccinated.
She wrote for Business Insider: 'Two doses of the measles vaccine [given at 12 to 15 months and again between 4 and 6 years] Avoid 97 percent of measles cases, so I'm not worried about them. '
Children too young to receive the vaccine depend on older children who can be vaccinated to protect them – the concept of herd – immunity.
With the outbreak that spreads in Texas, she says that it is best to keep vulnerable children from the supermarket and busy places as much as possible 'and' If you are worried about your baby, call your pediatrician '.
Dr. Lara Johnson is a pediatrician and the Chief Medical Officer in Covenant Children's Hospital in Texas
Cold -like symptoms, such as fever, cough and a runny nose or blocked nose, are usually the first signal of measles
From her experience Dr. says Johnson that parents of vaccinated children should not worry too much because they are 'very unlikely to get it'.
But for parents of non -vaccinated children, she says that the meaningful sign of the virus is a result that starts on the face. If you see this, call your pediatrician immediately, Dr. Johnson advises.
She also writes that it is not too late for children to get a vaccine – even after exposure.
The medical expert explains: 'If a dose of the vaccine is administered within three days, you can still drastically reduce your chance of getting measles.
'This is called prophylaxis after exposure (PEP). We offer vaccination to as much non -vaccinated people as possible, including the family members of children admitted to the hospital. '
Measles is one of the most infectious infectious diseases.
One contaminated person can spread the infection to 12 to 18 other people in a non -vaccinated population.
Much of the outbreak in Texas is centered in Gaines County, which has reported 57 cases.
Health officials said that due to the high transferability, additional cases probably occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities.
In the meantime, Terry County has fallen 20 in the north, Dawson County has six, Yoakum County has four and Lubbock, Ector and Lynn Counties each have a case.
Gaines County, with a population of only 21,598, has one of the highest percentages of vaccine exemptions in the state and all confirmed cases are in non -vaccinated people.
Measles are caused by a virus that spreads by breathing drops that are produced when an infected person talks, coughs or sneezes. Measles virus can stay in the air or on surfaces for a maximum of two hours after an infected person has left the room.
Symptoms usually appear between seven and 14 days after contact with the virus. It can cause a high fever that can be life threatening, a red rash, cough, fatigue and watery eyes.
In some cases the infection can also cause sensitivity to light, pneumonia and swelling of the brain.
One in five children who get infected ends up in the hospital, with one in 15 that develops serious complications, such as meningitis or sepsis.
About five percent of the children with measles can develop pneumonia, which is the most common cause of death in young children with measles.
Moreover, about one in 1,000 children who contract measles may experience brain swelling or encephalitis, leading to convulsions and possible consequences such as deafness or intellectual disability.
For every 1,000 children who have measles, one or two will die.
Measles was proclaimed in 2000 thanks to the highly effective MMR vaccine, but the falling rates in children's vaccinations have led out for outbreaks every year.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, the US saw 3 million to 4 million cases a year. Now it is usually less than 200 annually.
The US saw an increase in measles stores in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that made more than 60 sick.
Dr. Johnson focuses on the anti-vax movement, which she knows exists in and around her community, concludes: 'Vaccines can be polarizing and there is no magical way to tackle communities that have strong anti-vaccine sentiments.
'As pediatricians, it is our job to speak the truth about vaccines: they are safe and effective. We hope that families are willing to hear that. '
