LUBBOCK, Texas (KLBK) — An unvaccinated school-aged child who was hospitalized with measles has died, marking the first death in a West Texas outbreak that began last month, according to Lubbock and state health officials.
Health officials on Wednesday said the child passed away in the past 24 hours.
In its latest update, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS)Â said there were 124 cases of measles across Texas and the South Plains. DSHS said 18 patients were hospitalized.
Five cases were vaccinated, but the rest were unvaccinated. There were also nine cases in Lea County, New Mexico.
The outbreak is largely spreading in the Mennonite community in an area where small towns are separated by vast stretches of oil rig-dotted open land but connected due to people traveling between towns for work, church, grocery shopping and other day-to-day errands. Gaines County, which has 80 cases, has one of the highest rates in Texas of school-aged children who opt out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14% of K-12 children in the 2023-24 school year.
What to know about measles
Measles is a respiratory virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most kids will recover from the measles if they get it, but infection can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.
Symptoms, which appear seven to 21 days after contact with the virus, include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- 2-3 days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth.
- 3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash that appears flat and red may appear on the face and hairline. This rash tends to spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
If you are exposed or become symptomatic, health experts say to isolate yourself immediately to prevent spreading the virus to others. Contact your healthcare provider by phone to arrange testing in a way that minimizes exposure to others (do not show up unannounced).
Health officials say to seek immediate medical care if you experience:
- Severe cough or difficulty breathing.
- High fever (over 103°F).
- Signs of severe complications like seizures, confusion, or extreme fatigue/weakness.
- Dehydration.
If you do need immediate medical care, be sure to wear a mask before arriving at a healthcare facility. Health officials recommend calling when you arrive to alert staff that you may have measles.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
