Texas Issues Measles Alert After 9 People Sickened

9 People Get Measles in North Texas Outbreak

By SYDNEY LUPKIN

Aug. 20, 2013—

A North Texas measles outbreak has health officials urging residents to get vaccinated against the highly contagious illness in time for the first day of school.

Nine people have come down with the measles over the last month in Tarrant County, county health department spokesman Al Roy told ABCNews.com. One person caught measles traveling outside the United States, and the other eight adults and children caught it from that first person, he said.

"There are potentially hundreds of people exposed in the North Texas area," state Health Commissioner Dr. David Lakey said in the health alert that went out Friday.

Although the MMR vaccine should offer lifelong protection against the measles, Texas is a state that allows children to attend school without it if their parents fill out personal belief exemption paperwork. Children can be exempt from entering school without the required vaccinations "for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief," according to the state health department.

"Measles is probably the most contagious virus that we know of," said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn. "More importantly, there are an increasing number of children whose parents are delaying immunization or stretching them out, and others who are simply withholding these children from immunizations because of autism."

Schaffner said the autism argument "has been laid to rest scientifically," but parents still believe it and don't vaccinate their children.

Almost 92 percent of Texans received MMR vaccinations, making its estimated vaccination rate better than 30 other states, according to 2010 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which is the most recent data available.

Schaffner said measles is so contagious, however, that even a small number of unvaccinated people won't be protected by the so-called herd effect if someone brings the measles virus to the community.

Measles causes flu-like symptoms and a rash, according to the CDC.

Complications include pneumonia and encephalitis, so several hundred children used to die from it every year before MMR vaccines were required in 1957, Shaffner said. As a result, he said it's a problem when people don't get vaccinated for it. "We're talking about numbers of cases that can be counted on two hands," he said of the current outbreak. "We think of each of these as a major public health failure today, and it's very, very sad."

Although Tarrant County officials are worried about adults and children who are not vaccinated -- especially those who are somehow against getting vaccinations -- they are glad this is happening now because back-to- school vaccination clinics and programs are already under way.

"It could have come at a worse time but it didn't," Roy said.

Five other cases had been reported elsewhere in Texas earlier in 2013, but those aren't considered connected to this outbreak, according to Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for the Texas Department of State Health Services.

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Home > Lifestyles > Health & Fitness > Health Texas health officials issue measles alert after nine cases in Tarrant County

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By SHERRY JACOBSON Staff Writer [email protected] Published: 16 August 2013 10:40 PM Updated: 16 August 2013 10:40 PM

The Texas health department issued a measles alert Friday after nine cases were confirmed in Tarrant County this week.

In all, 14 measles cases have been confirmed throughout the state this year, the most since 1996.

Dallas and Denton counties have reported two cases each, and Harris County has confirmed one.

“We have an outbreak” in Tarrant County, said Dr. Theresa Barton, associate professor of pediatric infectious diseases at UT Southwestern Medical Center.

“It concerns us because measles has the potential to be a really serious infection, which is why we vaccinate for it.”

No cases of measles were reported in Texas last year, and only six were confirmed in 2011.

“We issued the alert because most physicians probably don’t see this disease that often,” said Christine Mann, a spokeswoman for the Department of State Health Services.

The outbreak does not appear to be spreading between North Texas counties, health officials said.

Only those infected in Tarrant County were believed to still have active measles symptoms, said officials in the three North Texas counties.

“Of the new cases, the individuals who are currently ill and infectious have been asked to self-isolate,” Al Roy, a spokesman for the Tarrant County Public Health Department, said in a statement late Friday.

People with measles are considered infectious for seven to 18 days, starting four days before they develop a rash.

The Tarrant outbreak began when an adult traveled to a foreign country in late July and developed measles upon returning to Texas, officials said.

The first two cases were announced Thursday as being related to each other. The other seven were confirmed Friday.

“It has been determined that all of the new cases are connected to one of the previously known measles cases,” the Tarrant statement said.

“That one adult case [from the two originally reported] is the only one that has traveled outside the United States.”

The measles cases in Dallas and Denton counties occurred months ago but also were linked to foreign travel. The Denton case involved a woman in her 40s who became infected in April while traveling in the Republic of Georgia, according to the Denton County Health Department.

After she was diagnosed, health officials notified the University of North Texas. She had attended an event there and may have exposed others, said Sarah McKinney, a spokeswoman for the Denton department.

The second measles case in Denton was linked to the woman in May.

The two Dallas County measles cases involved a 14-month-old child who traveled abroad and became ill in May, and a 14-year-old who was diagnosed in June.

The cases were related, said Dallas County officials, and no other contacts were found to be infected.

The statewide measles alert was intended to promote immunization against the highly contagious illness, which rarely is diagnosed because of high U.S. vaccination rates.

Of the nine cases in Tarrant County, “the vaccination status of these individuals varies,” Roy said.

How vulnerable the North Texas population might be in a wider measles outbreak is unknown. An estimated 98 percent of U.S. children have been vaccinated once by the time they’re 15 months old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, a second shot is needed to confer full immunity before a child goes to kindergarten. Many people, especially adults, did not receive the booster shot, UT Southwestern’s Barton noted.

“We do not have perfect vaccination rates,” she said.

The two-dose regimen also has about a 1 percent failure rate, the CDC says.

In recent years, some parents also have resisted childhood immunizations because of fears about children possibly contracting autism from the shots. One study purported to show such a connection but was later discredited.

“There has not been any established linkage between immunizations and autism,” Barton said.

Adults may be particularly vulnerable to contracting the measles because the booster shot was not recommended until the mid-1990s.

“Individuals born before 1957 are considered immune to the measles,” said Dr. Christopher Perkins, medical director of Dallas County Health and Human Services.

“But everyone should check their immunization records. Make sure your minor children, young adults and you yourself are all vaccinated.” Health alert issued as measles suddenly spreads near Dallas By Carol Christian | August 22, 2013 | Updated: August 22, 2013 1:18pm

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With 20

Photo By CDC 1 of 3 An undated file photo from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a child with a classic Day 4 rash with measles.

confirmed measles cases in the past month, state health officials are continuing a health alert issued last week and are urging immunization against the highly contagious illness.

As of Wednesday, the Texas State Department of State Health Services had confirmed 15 cases in Tarrant County and five in Denton County, said Christine Mann, department spokeswoman.

Potentially hundreds of people in North Texas have been exposed to the airborne illness, according to the agency's health alert issued Aug. 16.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing. Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus, the alert stated.

Prior to the recent outbreak, there were five cases of measles in Texas this year, including one Harris County case diagnosed in April, Mann said.

At the time, Harris County health officials said the 1-year-old child represented the county's first case of measles in two years.

No measles cases were reported last year in Texas, according to the state health department.

The recent outbreak's so-called "index" case, or the person whose illness triggered the spread, is believed to have been exposed while traveling to a country where measles is endemic, the alert stated.

Measles symptoms include a generalized rash, fever greater than 101 degrees Fahrenheit, cough, runny nose and conjunctivitis (pink eye).

The incubation period from exposure to the onset of fever ranges from seven to 18 days.

People with measles are contagious from four days before the onset of rash to four days after the rash appears, the alert said.

Health care providers are asked to consider measles in their diagnoses of patients with measles-like symptoms, especially people who have traveled abroad or have contacted known measles cases, the alert stated.

People who have measles or are suspected of having measles should seek medical attention and otherwise stay home for four days after the rash appears.

Vaccination even shortly before or after exposure may prevent the disease or lessen the symptoms in people who are infected with measles, according to the health alert.

Immune globulin given up to six days after exposure may prevent disease among susceptible or unvaccinated people at high risk for complications, such as pregnant women, people with weak immune systems and children too young to be vaccinated, the alert stated.

Children as young as six months old can be vaccinated with measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine if exposure to measles is likely to occur, according to the health department's alert.

For information, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules. Texas health officials issue measles alert

Published August 20, 2013

Associated Press

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REUTERS/BRIAN SNYDER Texas health officials have issued a measles alert and are urging people to be immunized after more than a dozen cases were reported this year.

No cases were reported in 2012. The Texas Department of State Health Services said Texas had 11 confirmed cases so far this year, based on figures as of Friday. Six in the last week were in Tarrant County, the department said, but county Public Health officials in Fort Worth later updated that number to report a total of nine cases.

Dallas and Denton counties each reported two measles cases, Harris County has one.

Agency officials say Texas had six reported cases of measles in 2011.

State health officials are asking health care providers to watch for potential exposures and patients with measles symptoms, especially in North Texas, the agency said in a statement. Measles can be spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.

Tarrant County Public Health experts traced some of the area's measles cases to an adult who had traveled outside the U.S., the agency said. Further details about the person and where he or she traveled were not immediately released.

"Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus," according to state health officials.

People should check their immunization status with their health care provider, the agency said.

Statewide health alert issued in Texas for measles

Posted: Aug 16, 2013 4:21 PM CDTUpdated: Aug 16, 2013 9:26 PM CDT By: Mark Norris - email

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a health alert Friday after 14 people across the state contracted measles, with the majority of the cases in Tarrant County.

State health officials confirmed there are nine measles cases in Tarrant County. Other measles cases in 2013 include two in Dallas County, two in Denton County and one in Harris County.

Tarrant County officials announced Thursday a parent and a child in northern Tarrant County contracted the virus after one of them recently traveled to a country where measles is common. It's believed the Tarrant County measles cases are connected to each other.

Tarrant County officials said Friday the "vaccination status of these individuals varies" and all infected people have been asked to stay isolated to avoid spreading the disease.

Measles was largely wiped out after a vaccine became widespread in the 1950s, making cases rare in the United States.

"Young couples, they've never seen measles, they don't know anything about it, they don't even recognize it if they see it," Anita Colbert, Tarrant County Public Health, said.

In Dallas County, the two infected children are related.

Dallas County Health and Human Services says one unvaccinated child traveled to another county in May, got measles, then came back and infected a 14-year-old sibling who was vaccinated.

Like many immunizations, the measles vaccine isn't fool-proof.

"The efficacy of the vaccine is not 100 percent," Zachary Thompson, Dallas County Health & Human Services, said. "So in most cases, we're seeing there is a protection there, but in some small cases, there may not be a protection."

But Thompson says immunizations are still the best prevention.

Measles, according to health officials, causes a reddish rash, high fever, cough, runny nose and watery eyes and usually lasts one to two weeks. The measles virus can stay suspended in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person has been present.

Dallas County will host a free immunization clinic from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m. Saturday at the Health and Human Services building.

Tarrant County will host a low-cost immunization clinic Saturday at North Davis Church of Christ in Arlington.

For information on other immunization clinics:

Dallas County Health and Human Services www.dallascounty.org/hhs/

Tarrant County Immunizations Clinic http://www.ictchome.org/ My Profile Sign Out

State issues alert after 14 measles cases, 13 of which in North Texas

by MATT GOODMAN

WFAA

Posted on August 16, 2013 at 3:58 PM

Updated Tuesday, Aug 20 at 5:26 PM

After numerous Texas residents were diagnosed with measles in the past month, the Department of State Health Services has issued a formal alert against the viral infection.

On the year, the state has logged 14 cases of measles. Compared to last year, when the state reported zero cases, health experts say the disparity is enough to signal an alert. In 2011, there were just six cases.

As such, the DSHS is urging residents to get immunized against the viral infection. If you don't know your immunization status, your health provider can help.

Especially relevant for North Texans: 13 of the 14 cases are in the Dallas-Fort Worth Area. Nine cases have been diagnosed in Tarrant County. Denton and Dallas counties have each had two cases. The other diagnosis is in Harris County.

Moments after the alert was issued, the state announced more cases in Tarrant County, bringing the total to 14. All of the nine cases of measles in Tarrant County are related, the health department has said. One adult contracted the virus abroad and spread it to his child, which triggered the other cases.

Dallas County Health and Human Services Director Zach Thompson said he's been in contact with other county health departments to stay abreast of the situation. While the cases in Dallas are not related to Tarrant, Thompson classified the diagnoses as "a wake up call to the importance of being vaccinated."

"When you talk about a correlation, we understand people congregate together … so there's a possibility of the measles spreading," he said. "That's why we're encouraging Dallas County residents to always check their children's immunization records as well as adults to make sure they're immunized against measles."

According to the Mayo Clinic, measles is an infection that typically affects children. Sympoms include cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, sore throat, fever and a red, blotchy skin rash. It can be fatal. The majority of victims who succumb to measles are under five-years-old.

The state notes: "The incubation period of measles is about two weeks from exposure to onset of rash. People are contagious from four days before onset of rash to four days after the appearance of rash. The rash usually begins on the face and spreads to the trunk."

According to the DSHS, measles is so contagious that if someone has it, there's a 90 percent chance they will pass it on to a person close to them. It can be spread from four days before the rash appears to four days afterward. The virus can stay in the air for up to two hours after an infectious person has been present.

Texas issues measles alert, 1 Houston area case

Posted: Aug 16, 2013 4:12 PM CDTUpdated: Sep 03, 2013 4:13 PM CDT By Kathryn Yglecias, Senior Web Producer -

The Texas Department of State Health has issued a measles alert for the state. One confirmed case is here in the Houston area. The state says they have four new confirmed cases this month bringing the total of nine for the year. The four most recent confirmed cases are all from Tarrant County but the other cases this year have been two in Dallas County, two in Denton County and one in Harris County. Measles is so contagious that if a person infected with the disease coughs for sneezes 90% of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will become infected with the measles virus. The incubation period of measles is about two weeks from exposure to onset of rash on the face and then spreads to the body. People are contagious about four days before the onset of rash to four days after the appearance of rash. Other symptoms include fever higher than 101 degrees, cough, runny nose and sore eyes. The State Health Department is asking doctors to consider measles in their diagnosis if any patient has a rash and a fever. Immunizations are the best protection to prevent against and prevent the spread of measles. Measles reported in Texas, but Bexar safe so far

BY JESSICA BELASCO : AUGUST 19, 2013 : Updated: August 19, 2013 11:19pm

Texas health officials have issued a health alert E-mail Print Recommend 4 Tw eet 2 0 0 after more than a dozen cases of measles were reported this year, but no cases have been reported in Bexar County, the Metropolitan

Health District said. MORE INFORMATION

Back-to-school shots The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging immunizations against the highly The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District contagious illness, which has been reported primarily in North Texas. As of Monday, there have offers shots for children and adults at its main been 14 confirmed cases in the state. immunization clinic at the Frank Garrett Community Center, 1226 NW 18th St., which opened in early August. Call 210-207-8894 to Nine cases have been reported in Tarrant County. Dallas and Denton counties each reported two make an appointment. The clinic's grand measles cases and Harris County reported one. opening is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday. Back-to-school immunization events are being No cases of measles were reported in Texas in 2012, and six were reported in 2011. held around the city by University Health System, 210-358-8255; CentroMed, 210-922- 7000; Christus Pediatric Mobile Clinic, 210- “We actually have increased our surveillance. But in Bexar County, our last reported case was in 954-3764; and CommuniCare Health Center, 210-233-7000. A schedule is available at 2007,” said Anil Mangla, chief epidemiologist for San Antonio. www.sanantonio.gov/health/immunizations.html Source: Metro Health Measles, a viral infection, is highly communicable through coughing and sneezing, but it is preventable by vaccine, Mangla said. State health department Web site The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is required by the state for students to enter San Antonio health department's immunizations Web site school, unless students obtain a waiver from the state. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site on measles “They have to have a current immunization record, so we're really not concerned about (measles) in this district, especially since there's none in the area,” said Sharon Nodine, South San Antonio Independent School District's health services coordinator.

Measles causes fever, runny nose, cough and a rash.

Vaccinations have made measles a rare occurrence in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but people who haven't been immunized against measles are at risk of getting infected when they travel outside the country.

“Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus,” according to state health officials.

People should check their immunization status with their health care provider, the agency said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. [email protected]

Measles alert issued in Texas Published on August 21, 2013 by Daniel Kamin

Measles

The Texas Department of State Health Services issued a health alert on Friday for the measles.

The alert comes after six confirmed cases of measles were discovered in the past month, which increased the total number of cases to 11 for the year. In 2012 there were no reported cases of the measles in Texas.

State health officials are asking that everyone at risk from the measles head to a health official and receive a measles vaccination. Immunization is the best way to protect against and stop the spread of the measles.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is spread by coughing and sneezing. For people without immunization and who are close enough to the person with the virus, the rate of contagion is near 90 percent.

The incubation period for the measles is around two weeks. Symptoms include a rash that begins on the face and moves to the trunk of the body, along with fever, cough, sore eyes and a runny nose.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is asking that everyone know the symptoms of the measles and receive immediate attention should they see the signs. Vaccination shortly after exposure can prevent the disease or lessen the symptoms.

Yahoo! Health Measles Alert in the Lone Star State

By Morgan Jones Tue, Aug 20, 2013

Measles is a highly contagious disease that has become rare in the US. But outbreaks of the disease can still occur, often after a person becomes infected abroad and carries the disease back home. Now it appears that people in Texas are becoming infected with the virus.

According to Tarrant County Public Health (TCPH), 14 cases of measles have been discovered in Texas so far during 2013.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) issued a Health Alert on Friday urging residents to protect themselves by getting vaccinated.

"Talk to your doctor about your vaccination status."

TCPH reported that nine of the 14 measles cases have developed within the last month, and all the latest cases have occurred in Tarrant County, located in North Texas. The region has experienced the bulk of 2013 measles infections.

Dallas and Denton counties both have reported two cases during 2013 and Harris County has reported one. There were no reported measles cases in Texas during 2012 and six cases were reported during 2011.

Measles is highly contagious and spreads through the air, like when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

"Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus," reported DSHS.

"There are potentially hundreds of people exposed in the North Texas area," DSHS noted in the official Health Alert.

All of the new Tarrant County cases are connected to one earlier-discovered case, says TCPH. This earlier case was discovered in an adult who had recently traveled outside of the US.

In the Health Alert, DSHS reminded the public that two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are recommended for everyone born after 1957. The first dose is ideally received at 12 months of age, and the second during the ages of 4 to 6. If there is a high risk for exposure, an earlier vaccination can be given.

"People should check their immunization status with their health care provider," said DSHS.

According to DSHS, symptoms of measles include a rash that begins on the face and spreads to the trunk of the body. A high fever, cough, runny nose and sore eyes are also common.

There is typically about two weeks between the time of exposure to measles and the time a rash begins to develop. "People are contagious from four days before onset of rash to four days after the appearance of rash," noted DSHS.

Measles leads to an ear infection in about one out of every 10 childhood cases, pneumonia in up to one out of 20 childhood cases, and death in about one or two out of 1,000 childhood cases, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Aug 19, 2013 09:09 AM EDT Texas Health Officials Issue Statewide Measles Alert; Urges People to be Immunized

Texas health officials issued a statewide measles alert after confirming 9 cases in Tarrant County Friday, says the Dallas News. There was no reported measles case last year. This year's number of cases has reached 14, making it the largest number of reported measles case since 1996. Texas health officials are urging people to be immunized as measles is a highly contagious disease. Although 98 percent of 15-month old children receive vaccinations against measles in the United States, a booster shot is needed to confer full immunity before the child goes to Kindergarten, says the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control. Most people do not receive the booster shot. "Measles is so contagious that if one person has it, 90 percent of the people close to that person who are not immune or vaccinated will also become infected with the measles virus," said state health officials in a report by ABC 13. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), this viral disease is transmitted via droplets from the nose, mouth or throat of infected persons. Symptoms like high fever, runny nose, bloodshot eyes and tiny white spots inside the mouth will not appear until after 10 to 12 days of being infected with the virus. Measles then manifests itself in the form of rashes that usually starts on the infected person's face and upper neck which will then spread to the trunk. The statewide measles alert was issued because of the probability that most physicians in the state have not seen the disease that often said the Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Christine Mann in a report by Dallas News. The 9 cases of measles in Tarrant County reportedly started with an adult who developed measles upon returning to Texas from a travel outside of the United States in late July. The said case, along with another case of measles was reported Thursday while the most recent 7 cases were reported Friday. Aside from the cases of measles in Tarrant County, there are two other reported measles cases in Dallas County, another two in Delton County and a single measles case in Harris County.

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PHARMA & HEALTHCARE 8/24/2013 @ 2:54PM 171,538 view s Measles Outbreak Traces To Vaccine-Refusing Megachurch

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A measles outbreak in Texas traces to a congregation of a megachurch whose leader, Kenneth Copeland, reportedly has warned followers away from vaccines, advocating for faith healing and pushing the debunked notion that vaccines cause autism. One of Copeland’s churches, Eagle Mountain International Church in North Texas, is the epicenter of the outbreak, which now has hit at least 20 people [UPDATE, 8/27/13: now at 21 in north Texas and one new case confirmed in southeast Texas, link to church not established]. According to USA Today’s Liz Szabo,

Those sickened by measles include nine children and six adults, ranging in age from 4 “ months old to 44 years old. At least 12 of those infected were not fully immunized against measles, Roy says. The other patients lack documents to show whether they were vaccinated.

Just as Wales is paying the price of the autism-measles vaccine panic begun 15 years ago, so is this Texas community. In the wake of the outbreak, the church’s pastor and Kenneth Copeland’s daughter, Terri Copeland Pearsons, was urging congregants take advantage of a couple of free vaccination clinics the church suddenly has on offer or to self quarantine at home for two weeks if they didn’t want to receive vaccinations.

The chain of infection began with a person who traveled somewhere outside the US where measles remains common. Unaware of being infected with the virus, this person then attended services at the church, reportedly even coming in contact with people in the childcare room, which might explain why a 4-month-old baby has been infected. The first two patients were identified nine days ago. As of Friday, 15 cases had been diagnosed in Tarrant County, Texas, and another five had been treated in its neighboring county of Denton. All of the cases trace to the Eagle Mountain congregation. Five more Texas measles cases from this year are not connected to this outbreak. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services issued a health alert related to the Eagle Mountain outbreak on August 16, and the alert remains in effect. Symptoms of infection with the measles virus, which can spread via droplets released during coughing and sneezing, show up from 8 to 12 days after exposure. Symptoms include a characteristic rash, cough, fever, and pain, and there is no treatment. More serious outcomes can range from pneumonia to brain inflammation and death.

Measles is so wildly infectious that neighboring counties aren’t the only geographical areas of concern. Public health workers in neighboring states also are on alert. Health officials in Oklahoma, describing measles as capable of “spreading like wildfire,” are watching the North Texas outbreak closely, given that Tarrant and Denton counties lie just south of the Oklahoma border on a major interstate highway corridor.