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State health officials have confirmed 21 measles cases
in Texas this year. Since outbreaks have occurred this year in other states and
several foreign countries, DSHS is urging health care providers to consider
measles when diagnosing patients because early identification, along with
immunization, is key to preventing measles from spreading.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. Measles is so contagious that if someone has it, 90 percent of the people around that person who are not immune will become infected. DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children get a dose of measles vaccine at 12-15 months of age and again at 4-6 years. The measles vaccine is very effective, about 97 percent after two doses. Children too young to be vaccinated or who have only had one dose of vaccine are more likely to get infected.
A hallmark of measles is a rash that begins as flat, red spots on the face and spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body. Other symptoms include a high fever over 101 degrees, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes. Anyone who believes they have measles should contact their health care provider as soon as possible.
Texas had nine confirmed cases in 2018 and one in 2017. Additional measles numbers are available on our
measles data page.
Measles News Release
Measles Health Alert |
Measles Cases by County, Texas 2019
2019 Measles Cases
| County |
Cases |
| Bell |
1 |
| Bexar |
1 |
| Collin |
2 |
| Dallas |
1 |
| Denton |
1 |
| El Paso |
6 |
| Harris |
4 |
| Galveston |
1 |
| Guadalupe |
1 |
| Jefferson |
1 |
| Montgomery |
1 |
| Tarrant |
1 |
| Total |
21 | Figure 1: 2019 Measles Cases
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