Health officials warn of potential for measles cases during spring break

HARLINGEN, Texas (ValleyCentral) — The number of measles cases across Texas continues to rise with 124 confirmed cases as of Feb. 25.

The outbreak is primarily confined to West Texas. The first fatality linked to measles since 2015 occurred in Lubbock after an unvaccinated, school-aged child was hospitalized with the disease.

Cameron County health officials are notifying the public that it is not too late to get vaccinated for measles.

"It could be a very serious illness, it could put people in the hospital and that's a shame because there's a really safe, effective vaccine that's available," Cameron County Health Authority Dr. James Castillo said. "So anybody who's worried about the measles, especially now that it's spreading, it's absolutely not too late to get vaccinated."

Cameron County Health Administrator Esmeralda Guajardo said they are concerned about the number of spring break travelers to South Padre Island and the challenge of tracking measles if confirmed during that time.

“Anytime there is an event that brings a lot of people together, there’s always a concern for disease to be spread, whether it’s spring break, whether it’s easter, whether it’s football season," Guajardo said.

Measles is an airborne illness that is spread through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes and through close contact with the saliva of an infected person.

The symptoms include high fever, coughing, sneezing and a rash that spreads through the body.

Castillo stated that unvaccinated individuals who have been exposed to measles can still receive protection by getting vaccinated afterward.