At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.

Summary

A measles outbreak in rural West Texas has surged to 49 confirmed cases, mostly among unvaccinated school-age children, with officials suspecting hundreds more unreported infections.

The outbreak is centered in Gaines County, home to a large Mennonite population with low vaccination rates. Despite CDC support, Texas has not requested federal intervention.

The outbreak has now spread to Lubbock, raising wider public health concerns.

Experts warn it could persist for months without increased vaccination efforts, but skepticism toward vaccines remains a significant barrier.

  • Red_October@lemmy.world
    3·
    7 days ago

    I hope some day we can invent some sort of treatment that could prevent kids from ever getting this disease.

    • NauticalNoodle@lemmy.ml
      1·
      6 days ago

      My greatest fear is that we will never find the cure for being an idiot. I know for some people that the disease is fatal.