Measles outbreak in Texas rises to at least 48 cases — the state’s worst in nearly 30 years
(CBS NEWS) —-A measles outbreak in Texas has grown to 48 confirmed cases, making it the state’s worst in nearly 30 years — and local health officials say additional cases are likely. At least 13 people have been hospitalized in the outbreak so far, Texas officials said.
Other states are seeing cases too. New Mexico’s Health Department confirmed a case there last week in an area that borders Gaines County, Texas, where the outbreak in centered. It said the teenager who got sick had not traveled to Texas and it’s unclear how they were exposed to the virus.
Alaska, Georgia, New York and Rhode Island have also reported measles cases this year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
On “CBS Mornings” Monday, Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News medical contributor and editor-at-large for public health at KFF Health News, said lower vaccination rates allow measles to spread, noting that even a slight dip in coverage can lead to outbreaks.
“This is a measles outbreak that began in a very close-knit, rural, Mennonite community that has very low vaccination rates. And unfortunately, we have seen vaccination rates exemptions … really soar in Texas in recent years,” she said.
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