On February 26th, the first death from measles in the U.S. since 2015 was reported. This, and more than 150 other cases, have shown up in rural West Texas in the last few weeks, leaving 18 people hospitalized. Unfortunately, not only the U.S. has had a spike in cases of this disease, but other countries, such as the U.K., have seen measles on the rise. Is there a cause for these new cases appearing? And what can be done to protect yourself or others from getting this disease?
The outbreak in the U.S. is largely spreading from a Mennonite community, which includes several small towns connected by stretches of oil rig-dotted land. Other counties with high infection rates include Gaines and Terry, also in West Texas. The county next to Gaines, Lea County, New Mexico, has also reported cases. Most people currently known to have contracted the measles virus in this current outbreak in Texas and New Mexico are children under 18 years of age, with 39 infections affecting children under four.
The CDC says that the source of this outbreak came from traveling abroad. State health officials in Texas have said that this outbreak is the biggest in Texas in the past 30 years and is due to the “close-knit, undervaccinated” lifestyle of the Mennonite community.
What are some ways to keep yourself and others safe from measles? The safest way to protect yourself from contracting measles is to get vaccinated. This vaccine should be administered twice: the first dose is recommended for children 12-15 months old and the second for children ages four to six. Most children who contract measles can recover fairly quickly, but dangerous complications can result. These complications include pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and possibly death.
If you are already infected with measles, there are some medications and supplements to help fight off the infection, such as antibiotics, fever reducers (such as ibuprofen), and vitamin A. Self-care is also important for helping your body recover from this disease. Getting plenty of rest and water is always helpful when you’re sick. Additionally, moistening the air can relieve a cough or sore throat. Although there are many cases in Texas and New Mexico, the spread of measles has not been rampant throughout the rest of the states. Keeping yourself healthy and vaccinated is the most efficient way to protect yourself from this disease.
Credit:
https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-west-texas-death-rfk-41adc66641e4a56ce2b2677480031ab9
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/measles/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20374862
https://apnews.com/article/measles-outbreak-texas-rfk-vaccines-8cf4641b04731c713edb524ca943490c
https://apnews.com/article/measles-mmr-vaccine-texas-rfk-ff8e744b19ead87698d7217de02814ee
