The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has announced that the measles outbreak in West Texas has ended. CIDRAP has the news.
It had been “more than 42 days (double measles’ maximum incubation period)” since any of the counties had reported a new measles case. 99 people were hospitalized over the course of the outbreak, and two school-aged children died.
The DSHS also said that “although the outbreak is over, there will likely be more measles cases diagnosed in Texas this year since there are ongoing measles outbreaks in North America.” The outbreak in West Texas had kicked off “what has become the worst year for measles activity in the U.S. since the virus was eliminated in 2000.”
Colorado has also confirmed a new measles case in an unvaccinated resident. Colorado has recorded 20 measles cases this year “after recording only 5 illnesses in the previous decade.” New Jersey also reported a case in a traveler who flew through Newark International Airport on July 29 and 30.
