In a large measles outbreak centered in West Texas, Texas and other states with linked cases—Kansas and Oklahoma — have reported a few more infections, according to the latest updates from health departments.
In Texas, cases continue a downward trend. Yesterday the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) reported 6 more cases since its last update on June 10, lifting the outbreak total to 750 across 35 counties. However, the number of counties with ongoing transmission has declined to three, including the original epicenter Gaines, along with Lamar and Lubbock. Of the 750 cases, 707 people were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, 22 had received one dose, and 21 had gotten two or more doses.
Like other states, Texas has reported sporadic cases in other counties that aren’t linked to the larger outbreak. So far, the TDSHS has reported 32 such cases, while adding that ongoing investigations might link some to the larger outbreak.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE), which is battling an outbreak in the southwestern part of the state, has reported a total of three new cases in its last two updates, two of them linked to the outbreak. The new cases push the state’s overall total to 79, of which 76 are linked to the outbreak across nine counties in the southwestern region. Of those, 70 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination statuses. The majority of cases involve children ages 10 years old and younger.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported one new cases in its outbreak, bringing the state’s overall total to 20, including 17 confirmed and 3 listed as probable. Nineteen people were either unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, and one had received two more measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) doses.
New Mexico wastewater detention hints are measles in new county
New Mexico has also reported cases linked to the West Texas outbreak, and though the health department hasn’t reported any new cases, yesterday it announced that measles has been detected in a wastewater sample collected on June 10 in Deming, located in the central part of the state.
In a statement, Daniel Sosin, MD, MPH, state epidemiologist at the New Mexico Department of Health, said, “This detection tells us there was at least one person infectious with measles in Deming on June 10 that has gone undiagnosed.” He warned that there may be more cases from Luna County in the coming days. The state has been monitoring wastewater for measles since the middle of March as an early warning system.
South Dakota expands vaccination following 2 more cases
In other developments, the South Dakota Department of Health today said following the confirmation of two more measles cases, it is expanding access to measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine through public vaccination clinics at 11 sites.
The state announced its first case on June 2 and has now reported four cases. Officials said one of the two new patients had visited an urgent care center at Rapid City Medical Center on June 10, which may have exposed people who were at the location.
