EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The measles outbreak in West Texas has resulted in the death of a school-aged child who was unvaccinated in Lubbock, Texas.
The outbreak originally started in Gaines County on the state’s panhandle. Then, it spread to eight other counties across the state.
Texas health officials say the outbreak has infected at least 124 people as of Feb. 25.
Local health professionals say that there are no active cases of measles in the Borderland but are prepared in the case of an exposure.
“We know that Gaines County is not too far from El Paso, and there’s a lot of families that travel back and forth to all these places, especially for work. We know that there are still people here in El Paso that haven’t received the vaccine. So, we’re getting prepared, and we’re in constant communication with the Department of State Health Services,” Doctor Hector Ocaranza, health authority for the city and the county of El Paso, said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, measles is highly contagious. The airborne virus can survive on surfaces for up to two hours and will infect nine out of 10 people nearby if they are not protected.
Health experts add that it’s recommended to get vaccinated against the virus.
“Vaccination is the most important preventive tool that we have. It has been shown over the years that this vaccine is very safe and effective. As effective. That is about 97 percent effective when you have the two doses of the vaccine,” Dr. Ocaranza said.
For more information on where to get measles vaccination visit https://www.elpasotexas.gov/public-health/services/immunizations/
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