Latest news with #AnitaKurian
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Measles outbreak continues to spike with nearly 150 reported cases
The measles outbreak in Texas continues to grow, with nearly 150 reported cases, and more could be exposed. The outbreak in West Texas has killed one person, a child, making it the first U.S. measles death in a decade. State and local health officials say hundreds of thousands of people in San Antonio could have been exposed over Valentine's Day weekend. A person visiting the area for the weekend later tested positive, KSAT12 reported. 'It's very possible that this person could have come in contact with, if not hundreds, thousands of our community residents, as well as visitors,' said Anita Kurian, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District deputy director of communicable disease, per NBC News. 'We are a destination city. We have real great concern of potential large community wide exposures at these public sites.' It's a highly transmissible virus, where one infected person can infect 9 out of 10 people they come in contact with. As of Friday, 164 cases have been reported nationally, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Officials say most of the community is vaccinated against the virus, but the threat remains. Vaccination proves to be a controversial, yet effective, measure in combating the virus, as just five of the infected are vaccinated. Officials expect most cases to be confirmed later this week, as it takes time to see an exposure. Most of the state's cases have been among school-age children, with more than 80 percent found in people younger than 18. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Thousands' possibly exposed to measles in Texas as outbreak grows
The West Texas measles outbreak continues to grow, now possibly spreading into the central part of the state and neighboring New Mexico, health officials said Friday. The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed there have been 146 cases of the highly contagious virus since the outbreak, centered in Gaines County, began in late January. Twenty people have been hospitalized and one child has died. Parts of Central Texas have been monitoring for measles cases ever since an infected person traveled from Gaines County to San Marcos and San Antonio over Valentine's Day weekend. The person visited the University of Texas at San Antonio campus and a variety of restaurants and convenience stores like Buc-ee's in other areas near the city. 'It's very possible that this person could have come in contact with, if not hundreds, thousands of our community residents, as well as visitors,' Anita Kurian, San Antonio Metropolitan Health District Deputy Director of Communicable Disease, said at a media briefing Friday. 'We are a destination city. We have real great concern of potential large community wide exposures at these public sites.' In a separate briefing Friday, Katherine Wells, director of public health for Lubbock's health department, said most of the community is vaccinated, although because measles is so contagious, they are reaching out to families and closely monitoring schools for more infections. 'I do expect to see additional cases,' she said. 'I'm very nervous about getting a measles case in a school or a day care. We are closely monitoring that.' Dr. Ronald Cook, chief health officer at both the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock and the city's Health Authority, cautioned that people may not know if they've been exposed. The incubation period is seven to 14 days. The earliest symptoms are a cough, a runny nose and conjunctivitis, or red, watery eyes, followed by sore spots in the mouth and a high fever of 103-104 degrees. A rash typically begins on the scalp or face and works its way down the body, he said. People are infectious 'from four days before the rash appears until four days after the rash,' said Cook. 'Then it's another 10 days to get over the disease.' Kurian said her office is getting up to 80 calls a day from people who are concerned about their exposure to measles in San Antonio. It could be at least a week until cases reveal themselves. 'We expect to see any cases coming out of these exposures by March 8,' she said. Most or all of the hospitalized patients have been children. Kids who have been admitted are either extremely dehydrated or are having serious trouble breathing, Cook said during the briefing Friday. Small children have tiny airways that can't easily handle the massive amounts of inflammation caused by measles, he said. Most of the cases are unvaccinated children, including a school-age child who died on Wednesday. Health officials are also trying to figure out if nine measles cases in neighboring New Mexico, announced previously, are linked to the Texas outbreak. Cases unrelated to the current outbreak have also popped up in Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City and Rhode Island. The origin of the West Texas outbreak, which is believed to have started within a close-knit Mennonite community, is unknown, Wells said Friday. 'We're not going to have an answer anytime soon,' she said, noting that other outbreaks in recent years have come from 'a U.S. citizen or someone traveling out of the country and bringing it back in.' While measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world, it's controlled by widespread use of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine (MMR) in a population. Two doses of the shot are 97% effective in preventing the disease, and the vast majority of U.S. kids get them as the CDC has long recommended: one dose around age 1, and another around age 5. As vaccine hesitancy has increased over time, fewer kids are getting their shots. The vaccine exemption rate in Gaines County was nearly 18% for the 2023-24 school year, according to health department data. There are no vaccine mandates or forced quarantines in the communities affected by the current measles outbreak. There is, however, free testing and vaccinations being offered. 'We learned lots of lessons during Covid,' Cook said. 'We can't force anybody to take a drug. That's assault.' Cook said he expects the outbreak will grow in the coming weeks. 'It's not a huge wildfire,' he said. 'It's going to be a smoldering fire, a tumbleweed fire, for a while until we finally get it stopped and put out.' Late Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted its first public statement about the outbreak. According to the CDC, the Department of Health and Human Services is 'providing technical assistance, laboratory support, vaccines, and therapeutic medication as needed to the Texas Department of State and Health Services.' The CDC said that vaccination 'remains the best defense against measles infection.' Early in the outbreak, state health authorities in Texas asked for 2,000 extra doses of the MMR vaccine, which were provided by the CDC. There is no specific treatment or antiviral drug for measles. Doctors mainly try to keep patients hydrated and help them get enough oxygen. 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Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Texas measles outbreak grows to nearly 150 cases as more patients are hospitalized
The West Texas measles outbreak grew again on Friday, with state health officials now reporting 146 cases of the infectious virus. Hospitalizations were up by two, rising from 18 to 20. There has been only one death associated with the outbreak: the first in the nation since 2015. An unvaccinated child died Tuesday in Lubbock, although the facility that treated the child told The Associated Press they did not live in Lubbock County. Of the 146 cases, 70 are children and teens between the ages of five and 17 years old. And, 46 are four years old and younger. Measles, which can survive in the air for up to two hours, can cause serious illness and death. 'Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,' the Texas Department of State Health Services said. A spokesperson for the state health department told The Associated Press that cases in West Texas have been concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community. While the majority of the cases - nearly 100 - have been reported in Gaines County, health authorities have sounded the alarm about potential exposures in San Marcos and San Antonio over Valentine's Day weekend. 'There is a very good possibility that hundreds of thousands of folks have come in contact with (the person),' Metro Health Deputy Director Dr. Anita Kurian said, according to KSAT. In addition to concerns about the nation's response on a federal level, the actions of state government have come into question. Mobile vaccination clinics have been opened in affected areas of the state, but Republican Governor Greg Abbott has yet to address the weeks-long outbreak in press conferences, according to The Texas Tribune. A request for comment from the governor was not immediately returned on Friday. 'Everybody is so sensitive to the vaccine topic due to COVID,' Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett told the publication. 'We need to be very careful about how we address this topic … Our job is to provide the resources, not to tell people what they need to do.' Meanwhile, the cases have spread across multiple states throughout the continguous U.S. and Alaska. Kentucky reported its own case in an adult resident who recently traveled internationally. 'Kentucky health officials are working to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. The resident attended a fitness center in Frankfort, Kentucky while infectious,' the Kentucky Department for Public Health said in a statement. 'Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world,' Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. 'Fortunately, measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is safe and effective. Vaccines are an essential tool to keep children and adults safe and healthy.'
The Independent
28-02-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Texas measles outbreak grows to nearly 150 cases as more patients are hospitalized
The West Texas measles outbreak grew again on Friday, with state health officials now reporting 146 cases of the infectious virus. Hospitalizations were up by two, rising from 18 to 20. There has been only one death associated with the outbreak: the first in the nation since 2015. An unvaccinated child died Tuesday in Lubbock, although the facility that treated the child told T he Associated Press they did not live in Lubbock County. Of the 146 cases, 70 are children and teens between the ages of five and 17 years old. And, 46 are four years old and younger. Measles, which can survive in the air for up to two hours, can cause serious illness and death. 'Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,' the Texas Department of State Health Services said. A spokesperson for the state health department told The Associated Press that cases in West Texas have been concentrated in a 'close-knit, undervaccinated' Mennonite community. While the majority of the cases - nearly 100 - have been reported in Gaines County, health authorities have sounded the alarm about potential exposures in San Marcos and San Antonio over Valentine's Day weekend. 'There is a very good possibility that hundreds of thousands of folks have come in contact with (the person),' Metro Health Deputy Director Dr. Anita Kurian said, according to KSAT. In addition to concerns about the nation's response on a federal level, the actions of state government have come into question. Mobile vaccination clinics have been opened in affected areas of the state, but Republican Governor Greg Abbott has yet to address the weeks-long outbreak in press conferences, according to The Texas Tribune. A request for comment from the governor was not immediately returned on Friday. 'Everybody is so sensitive to the vaccine topic due to COVID,' Ector County Judge Dustin Fawcett told the publication. 'We need to be very careful about how we address this topic … Our job is to provide the resources, not to tell people what they need to do.' Meanwhile, the cases have spread across multiple states throughout the continguous U.S. and Alaska. Kentucky reported its own case in an adult resident who recently traveled internationally. 'Kentucky health officials are working to identify and contact individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. The resident attended a fitness center in Frankfort, Kentucky while infectious,' the Kentucky Department for Public Health said in a statement. 'Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world,' Commissioner Dr. Steven Stack said. 'Fortunately, measles can be prevented with the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is safe and effective. Vaccines are an essential tool to keep children and adults safe and healthy.'
Axios
24-02-2025
- Health
- Axios
Officials warn of possible measles exposure in San Marcos and San Antonio
A growing number of Central Texas health departments are warning residents of possible exposure to measles, the latest sign that the outbreak in West Texas is spreading across the state. Why it matters: Measles is a highly contagious and potentially life-threatening disease that has surged in areas with high vaccination exemption rates. Childhood vaccination rates have been stalling out globally, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — who has embraced the debunked theory linking the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism — has been confirmed as the nation's top health official. Driving the news: A person from the West Texas outbreak area — while still contagious — made stops in San Marcos and San Antonio during the weekend of Feb. 14–16, state health officials said. The person visited Texas State University on Feb. 14 and a Twin Peaks restaurant in San Marcos that night. They made several stops at tourist attractions in San Antonio over the next couple of days. What they're saying: "Individuals who have not been vaccinated are at greater risk of infection," Anita Kurian, San Antonio Metro Health deputy director, said in a statement Sunday. "We urge everyone to ensure they are up-to-date on their vaccinations to protect themselves and those around them." How it works: The virus can survive in the air for up to two hours, and measles symptoms can begin seven to 21 days after exposure. It can be transmitted by direct contact or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. Several days later, a rash breaks out as flat red spots on the face and travels down the rest of the body. A person is contagious for about four days before the rash appears to four days after, per the Texas Department of State Health Services. Those who may have been exposed to measles should isolate themselves, monitor for symptoms and call their health care provider. Between the lines: Public health experts say the spread of the disease is preventable with two doses of a vaccine against measles, such as the MMR vaccine. Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but health advocates worry the decline in vaccination rates is allowing the disease to make a comeback. By the numbers: A growing portion of parents in Texas have been opting out of vaccines for their kids over religious or personal reasons. About 3.5% of Texas kindergartners had vaccine exemptions in the 2022–23 school year, double the rate from 2012. Travis County's exemption rate was 3.45% in the 2022–23 school year. Threat level: Nearly 100 people have contracted measles in Gaines County since January, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. A majority of them are children. The number is expected to continue to climb.
