Denton County Public Health reports first case of measles

February 07

00:57 2019

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Denton County Public Health confirmed in a press release one case of measles in Denton County on Wednesday, making it the seventh case to be reported statewide this year.

DCPH is now in the process of identifying and contacting people who may have been exposed to the virus and this case has not been linked to any other measles cases.

This is the first reported measles case of 2019 in the North Texas area and the seventh reported case statewide according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Three cases were reported in Harris County and one case was reported in Bell, Galveston and Montgomery counties.

“Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles,” Dr. Matt Richardson, the DCPH Director of Public Health said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, people think that measles is just a rash and fever but measles can cause serious health concerns, especially in young children, and is highly contagious. Vaccination is incredibly effective at protecting those we love from this infection.”

Symptoms of measles include fever, cough, red eyes, sore throat and a rash that spreads all over the body.

Measles can be prevented with the MMR vaccine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that children get the first dose of that vaccine between 12 and 15 months and the second dose between ages 4 and 6.

The CDC states measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through the air via coughing and sneezing, according to the release.

“Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 [percent] of the people close to that person who are not yet immune could become infected,” the release read. “As a highly contagious infection, measles can live in an airspace where an infected person was for up to two hours. Measles can be transmitted to others from four days prior to four days after the rash appears.”

The announcement of this case in North Texas comes after 31 cases of measles were reported last month in Portland, Oregon, most of which occurred in children under the age of 10.

In 2018, there were 17 outbreaks and about 350 diagnosed cases of measles in the U.S.

Featured Image: A Student Health and Wellness Center employee prepares to administer a vaccine. Image by: Mallory Cammarata.