The South Dakota Department of Health (SDDH) yesterday reported its first measles case of the year, which involves an adult resident of Meade County who became ill after international travel.
In a statement, the SDDH said the patient visited several public locations while infectious, including an urgent care in Rapid City on May 28 and an urgent care in Sturgis on May 29.
With summer travel season in full swing, states continue to report travel-linked cases, including Colorado, where at least six cases have been connected to a Turkish Airlines flight and exposure at Denver International Airport.
A few more cases linked to West Texas outbreak
Meanwhile, cases in the West Texas outbreak continue a downward trend after a peak in late March. The Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) reported 4 more cases since its last update on May 30, raising the outbreak total to 742 cases.
Over the course of the outbreak, 35 counties have reported, cases linked to the West Texas outbreak, mostly in Gaines County, where the event began. Ongoing transmission, however, is still under way in just 7 counties: Cochran, Dawson, Gaines, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum.
Texas, like other states, continues to report sporadic cases in other parts of the state that aren't linked to the larger outbreak. Today the TDSHS reported 1 more such case, putting the nonoutbreak total at 33 from 17 counties.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health, which has reported illnesses linked to the West Texas outbreak, today confirmed 1 more measles case, raising the state's total to 18, which include 15 confirmed and 3 listed as probable.
Meanwhile, the New Mexico Department of Health reported 2 more cases, including the first form San Juan County, bringing the state’s total to 81. San Juan County is in the far northwestern corner of the state where borders Sandoval County, which now has 6 cases.
Measles sickens 2 more in Montana
The Hill County Health Department in Montana yesterday announced that it is investigating two new measles patients, both of whom are contacts of the county's first confirmed case. Both are unvaccinated.
Health officials warned of potential exposure to the public at a local Walmart on May 23. On the same day, the health department issued enhanced measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination recommendations for residents and travelers to Hill County owing to the potential for community transmission. It involves early accelerated vaccination for children and an additional MMR dose for adults who have received only one dose.
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services said the state has recorded 15 cases in three counties, Flathead, Hill, and Gallatin. Two patients were hospitalized. It added that Hill County is the only location with an enhanced vaccination recommendation.
