Ft. Cavazos, CRDAMC urge vaccination for measles
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas (FOX 44) – Fort Cavazos families should be fully vaccinated to protect themselves and the community against measles, according to the Army Public Health Nursing team at Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center (CRDAMC).
This comes following the report of a confirmed case of measles in Bell County on June 3. Since January, the Texas Department of State and Health Services has reported 744 measles cases in the Central and South-Central region of Texas, including 96 hospitalizations. The Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) has reported over 1000 cases since June 10 in many other states.
The Medical Center says measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. It can live in the air and surfaces for up to two hours. The virus is highly contagious and can lead to serious complications, especially for babies and young children. Severe complications are pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), and death.
Signs and symptoms that a person has measles are cough, runny nose, fever, watery eyes and begin one to two weeks after someone is exposed. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik's spots) may appear inside the mouth. A rash that starts at the hairline/scalp and progresses down the body will usually begin three to five days after the other symptoms.
The Medical Center says the most effective way to prevent measles is to be immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine. Two doses will prevent more than 97 percent of measles infection and each dose lowers the risk of infection and severity of illness, if infected. The MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine is safe, effective, and recommended for:
Children: Two doses – the first given at 12-15 months and the second at 4-6 years old. The second dose can be given as early as four weeks after the first dose, regardless of age. Talk with your child's pediatrician for more information about recommended immunizations.Adults: Anyone who has not received two doses of the MMR vaccine or has not previously had measles.
The Fort Cavazos Public Health Department and Carl R. Darnall Medical Center is committed to educating and empowering the community to ensure everyone remains safe and healthy. If you think you have measles or have been exposed to the virus, do not go to the Emergency Room or Urgent Care first. Instead, isolate yourself from others and call your healthcare provider before going to be tested so that they can properly prepare for your arrival. To reduce the spread of the virus please share this information with your health care team when making any appointments.Follow your healthcare provider's instructions.
If you would like to ensure you and your loved ones are up to date on your vaccines, or schedule a vaccine appointment, you can contact your health care provider by phone, the patient portal at patientportal.mhsgenesis.health.mil, or by calling patient appointment service at 254-288-8888.
For more information about measles, you can visit the Texas Department of State Health Services website at https://hhs.texas.gov and the CDC website at https://www.cdc.gov/measles.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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