EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court is scheduled to get an update about the recent measles cases that have been confirmed in the El Paso area.
Commissioners Court is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Monday, April 14 at the County Courthouse, 500 E. San Antonio, third floor.
City-County Health Authority Dr. Hector Ocaranza is scheduled to brief Commissioners Court on “data and methods of prevention,” according to a news release sent out by the County.
During the past week, the City of El Paso’s Public Health Department has confirmed five cases of measles in the El Paso area, including one at Fort Bliss. Three new cases were confirmed by the City on Friday.
The Associated Press reported that there have been more than 700 measles cases in the U.S. this year, which surpassed last year’s total for the nation. The vast majority — more than 540 — have been in Texas, but cases have be confirmed in 23 other states, the Associated Press said. Two Texas children have died.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads through coughing and sneezing. It can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. Symptoms typically begin with fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes, followed by a rash that spreads from the head down to the rest of the body.
According to a news release sent out by the City of El Paso on Friday, individuals who are most at risk for contracting measles are people who are unvaccinated, have traveled to an area with ongoing measles outbreaks or are immuno-compromised.
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