Texas Declares An End To The Measles Outbreak

After blaming the measles outbreak in Texas on the unvaccinated, the state has officially declared that it has ended. The outbreak is said to have sickened 762 people and killed two others.

The outbreak began in January, but has ended as health officials in the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) say it has been more than 42 days since a new case was reported in counties where there was ongoing transmission, accoridng to a report by UPI. 

“DSHS will continue to monitor for new cases,” it said.

The total number of people infected amid the outbreak was 762, with the vast majority being either unvaccinated against measles or having an unknown vaccination status. Only 21 of the cases had two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, and only 23 had received one dose of the two-dose regime [sic]. –UPI

More than half of the cases were reported in Gaines County, where state data shows that 17.62% of K-12 students were exempt from at least one vaccine, ranking it among the highest exemption rates in the state. Nearly half of all students at one school in the county had filed for conscientious exemptions, according to the state data. The two children who died were unvaccinated.

According to a report by CNN, only 8% of those who were infected with measles during the outbreak were vaccinated.

“I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses. We arrived at this point through a comprehensive outbreak response that included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring and educating the public about measles through awareness campaigns,” Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a statement. “I also want to recognize the many health care professionals who identified and treated cases of a virus that most providers had never seen in person before this outbreak.”

Health officials say the best way to protect yourself from this virus is to get vaccinated.