Texas state health authorities announced the end of the measles outbreak that has affected the west of the southern territory since the beginning of 2025, where more than 700 cases have been reported and caused the death of two unvaccinated children.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) ended the outbreak after 42 days with no new infections. This number is, they said, double the maximum incubation period of the virus.
Texas ends measles outbreak
Since the end of January, the outbreak had left 762 confirmed cases, two-thirds of which were in minors.
Of these, 99 required hospitalization and two minors died.
The children were unvaccinated and, as far as is known, had no pre-existing disease.
Although the outbreak of the disease has been closed, the authorities urged to maintain precautions because there are still active outbreaks in other areas of the Americas.
Measles cases in the Americas already exceed 10,000 as of August of this year.
This represents a 34-fold increase compared to the same period in 2024, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).
The United States is the country on the continent that has registered the most cases, 1,356.
Only behind Canada (4,548 cases) and Mexico (3,911 cases).
With this figure, the U.S. reached the highest infection rate in the country in 33 years.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis and even death.
It is transmitted through the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes near others.
Texas health authorities remind that the most effective way is vaccination with two doses of the MMR vaccine, which offers a protection of more than 97%.
It is recommended that the first dose be administered between 12 and 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years of age.
La medida más efectiva contra el sarampión es la vacuna triple viral en dos dosis
QuéOnnda.com
