Measles outbreak tracker

Experts are sounding the alarm, saying that the West Texas measles outbreak could last for months - but there is some good news.

More than 300 cases have been reported during the outbreak, according to officials. There have been an additional 42 cases in New Mexico. At least two people have died during the outbreak.

Public officials now say that they believe the total number of cases is undercounted and that the outbreak could last for months.

But the spread has led to more measles, mumps and rubella vaccination in Texas and New Mexico this year. Pharmacies in West Texas are also seeing an increase in demand for the shots.

Texas' outbreak, which has largely spread in undervaccinated Mennonite communities, could last a year based on studies of how measles previously spread in Amish communities in the U.S.

Those studies showed outbreaks lasted six to seven months, said Katherine Wells, director of the public health department in Lubbock, Texas. Lubbock's hospitals have treated most of the outbreak's patients and the public health department is closely assisting with the response………..

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/texas-measles-outbreak-cases-vaccination-b2719828.html