Latest news with #HectorOcaranza
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
In El Paso, measles is infecting more adults than children
As soon as measles started spreading in West Texas, El Paso health officials began preparing schools and day care facilities for the day the virus would inevitably arrive. But now that it's here, it's not kids who are making up the brunt of the cases — it's adults. Two-thirds of El Paso's cases so far are among people over the age of 18, and only 7% are among school-age children. Anyone unvaccinated can contract measles, but it tends to hit children first and hardest. Most children are not fully vaccinated until they are five years old and they spend more time than adults in congregate settings where the virus can spread quickly. More families of young children are opting out of vaccines, leaving them exposed. Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, followed this traditional path, starting with school-age children before spreading to adults. Almost six months into what is now the country's largest measles outbreak since 2000, Texas' 722 cases are about evenly spread between the three age groups the state divides them into: under four, 5-17 and adults. El Paso stands out for its high rate of adult infections. The county only has 56 cases so far, the third-highest among Texas counties but still too small of a sample size to conclude much, public health experts say. But if this trend holds, it may be a credit to El Paso's high vaccination rates among kids — 96% of kindergartners and 98% of seventh graders are fully vaccinated for measles, higher than the percent required to maintain herd immunity. The state does not track adult vaccination rates. 'That is one of the protective factors that we feel is helping us,' said El Paso public health authority Hector Ocaranza. 'But still we're going to continue to see cases of measles that are going to be clustering in some of the schools or day cares that have low immunization rates.' These surprising initial statistics have required public health officials to change their outbreak response on the fly. They're aiming more of their vaccination events specifically at adults, especially as many health care providers who serve adults do not have the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine on hand the way pediatricians do. 'Most of the adults, they don't remember whether they've had the MMR vaccine,' Ocaranza said. 'They were kids, and nobody has a shot record.' Adults unsure of whether they were vaccinated as children can safely get another round of the shots, said Patsy Stinchfield, past president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and a measles expert. 'If you did have two [shots] already, it will only make your full antibody cup even fuller,' Stinchfield said. Older adults especially should consult with their doctor about their immunization status, she said. People born before 1957 are presumed immune, since the virus was so common back then, but some people who got an early version of the vaccine between 1963 and 1967 may not have gotten the same protection as later shots. The exceptions, she said, are people who are immunocompromised, pregnant women or the tiny minority of people who have had a bad reaction to the vaccine in the past. Those people are counting on everyone else's vaccination status to keep them healthy. Healthy adults are generally able to fight off the worst of a measles infection, but anyone who gets infected runs the risk of it morphing into pneumonia or worse, said Ben Neuman, a virologist at Texas A&M University. Three of the five hospitalizations in El Paso so far are in adults. And anyone with measles will spread it in the community, potentially to children too young to be vaccinated who are especially vulnerable to the worst outcomes, like encephalitis, deafness, blindness and permanent brain damage. 'Especially kids two years and under, their immune systems are just bad at everything,' Neuman said. 'We're all sort of helping them out with our herd immunity.' Neuman said it's possible that El Paso's high rate of adult cases is 'the first sign of something weird,' but he anticipates the data will start to look more normal as more people get tested. El Paso borders the Mexican state of Chihuahua, where the outbreak that originated in Texas has taken hold due to the large Mennonite communities in both places. Ocaranza said measles doesn't respect borders, and he anticipates it spreading vociferously on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico line now that it's in El Paso. The messaging is the same, whether it's children or adults who are testing positive, in Mexico or the United States, he said: Get vaccinated. 'We welcome anybody who needs the vaccine,' he said. 'We can vaccinate regardless of their place of residence, regardless of their immigration status, regardless of the ability to pay … Everyone needs to join forces to stop this.' Disclosure: Texas A&M University has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. First round of TribFest speakers announced! Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Maureen Dowd; U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio; Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker; U.S. Sen. Adam Schiff, D-California; and U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas are taking the stage Nov. 13–15 in Austin. Get your tickets today!
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
City, El Paso Fire to host free measles vaccine drive-thru event
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The City of El Paso Department of Public Health, with the El Paso Fire Department, will be hosting a free drive-thru measles vaccine event at the El Paso Zoo. The event will be from 2 to 7 p.m. on Monday, May 19, at the El Paso Zoo, located at 4001 E. Paisano. The vaccine drive-thru is in partnership with the El Paso Fire Department. According to the news release by the City of El Paso, the event is free and open to all community members who need a measles vaccine; no appointment or insurance is needed. 'We need the community to ensure they are up-to-date with their measles or MMR vaccine,' said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, City-County Health Authority. 'Vaccinating ourselves and our children not only protects our families but also helps prevent the spread of the disease within our community.' According to the City, measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread rapidly, particularly among unvaccinated individuals. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left the area. Common symptoms of measles include the following: Fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Rash that begins on the face and spreads downward. Infected individuals are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears (Day 0 is the day the rash begins). In addition, those at increased risk of contracting measles include: Unvaccinated individuals. Recent travelers to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks. Immunocompromised individuals, including pregnant women, people with HIV and those undergoing chemotherapy or other immunosuppressive treatments. 'The measles vaccine is highly effective, with two doses providing approximately 97 percent protection. Although rare, vaccinated individuals may still contract the virus, but they are far less likely to experience severe symptoms or transmit it to others,' the City said in a news release. Those who want to participate in the event should bring their shot record, if available, according to the City. According to the City, adults under 68 years old or under who do not have a record of receiving the vaccine are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. Pregnant women and individuals with compromised immune systems should not receive the vaccine, the City said. For more information on measles symptoms, vaccination and potential exposure can contact the City of El Paso's Mealses Hotline at (915) 212-HELP (4357), call 211 or visit the City's website under the Vaccination and Immunization tab. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Epoch Times
06-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Measles Cases in US Surpass 900, CDC Reports
There have been 935 confirmed measles cases reported in the United States this year as of May 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The confirmed measles cases were There have been 12 outbreaks—defined as 3 or more related cases—reported this year so far, the CDC said. The cases are part of ongoing measles outbreaks in North America, with over 2,500 cases reported across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The current measles wave first appeared in Ontario, Canada, last fall before spreading to the United States, where cases were identified in Texas and New Mexico in late January. By mid-February, the virus had reached Mexico's Chihuahua state. 'Diseases know no borders,' said Dr. Hector Ocaranza, El Paso's top public health official. 'So as people are mobile, they're going to be coming and receiving medical attention in El Paso but they may be living in Juarez.' Related Stories 4/20/2025 4/16/2025 The virus's cross-border spread is especially evident in border communities. El Paso, Texas, has reported 38 cases, the highest count in Texas outside of West Texas. Neighboring Ciudad Juarez in Mexico has confirmed 14 cases as of April 29. In Canada, Ontario has reported 1,020 cases through April 23. Mexico's Chihuahua state has documented 786 cases as of April 30, according to state health ministries. Health officials have identified certain Mennonite Christian communities as key factors in the cross-border transmission. Chihuahua health officials traced their first case to an 8-year-old Mennonite child who visited family in Seminole, Texas, became ill, and then spread the virus at school. Outbreaks Expand The outbreak has expanded beyond initial hotspots, with active outbreaks now occurring in 12 states. These include Texas, New Mexico, Indiana, Michigan, Montana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Michigan's outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County has been directly linked to the Ontario outbreak, according to Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, the state's chief medical executive. 'If we think about measles as a forest fire, we've got these burning embers that are floating in the air right now. Whether those embers result in another wildfire just depends on where they land,' Bagdasarian said. According to the CDC, 93 percent of confirmed U.S. cases in 2025 are outbreak-associated. There have been 12 outbreaks reported so far this year, compared to 16 in 2024. Of the 935 U.S. cases in 2025, 30 percent are under 5 years old, 38 percent are ages 5-19, 30 percent are 20 or older, and 1 percent are of unknown age. Thirteen percent of all cases (121 of 935) have required hospitalization. The highest hospitalization rate is among children under 5 years old (23 percent). There have been three confirmed deaths from measles in the United States this year and one death in Mexico. Health departments are working across borders to address the outbreaks. In El Paso, officials are conducting vaccination clinics in community spaces like malls and parks, offering free vaccines regardless of which side of the border residents live on. Each measles case in the United States costs an estimated $30,000 to $50,000 to investigate and address. Vaccination Status According to the CDC, 96 percent of U.S. cases are among people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Two percent of cases had received one dose of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, and another 2 percent had received two doses. Public health experts have said that maintaining a 95 percent vaccination rate is necessary for preventing measles outbreaks. 'Measles is one of the most contagious diseases in the world,' Dr. Jarbas Barbosa said during a press briefing held last week ahead of Vaccination Week in the Americas. 'Yet countries have struggled to sustain the recommended 95 percent coverage of MMR vaccine, which leaves us susceptible to imported cases.' The Associated Press contributed to this report. From
New York Post
01-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Measles outbreak continues to spread from US to Canada: ‘Diseases know no borders'
Dr. Hector Ocaranza knew El Paso would see measles the moment it began spreading in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Highways connect his border city with the epicenter of Texas' massive outbreak, which is up to 663 cases. They're the same roads used by thousands of families and commercial truckers who cross into Mexico and back each day. 'Diseases know no borders,' said Ocaranza, El Paso's top public health doctor, 'so as people are mobile, they're going to be coming and receiving medical attention in El Paso but they may be living in Juarez.' It took a couple of months, but El Paso now has the highest measles case count in the state outside of West Texas with 38. Neighboring Ciudad Juarez has 14 cases as of Monday. Advertisement 3 A health worker gives a child a measles vaccine at the health center in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. AP North America's three biggest measles outbreaks continue to balloon, with more than 2,500 known cases; three people have died in the U.S. and one in Mexico. It started in the fall in Ontario, Canada; then took off in late January in Texas and New Mexico; and has rapidly spread in Chihuahua state, which is up to 786 cases since mid-February. These outbreaks are in areas with a notable population of certain Mennonite Christian communities who trace their migration over generations from Canada to Mexico to Seminole, Texas. Chihuahua health officials trace their first case to an 8-year-old Mennonite child who visited family in Seminole, got sick and spread the virus at school. And Ontario officials say their outbreak started at a large gathering in New Brunswick involving Mennonite communities. Advertisement Mexican and U.S. officials also say the genetic strains of measles spreading in Canada match the other large outbreaks. 'This virus was imported, traveling country to country,' said Leticia Ruíz, director of prevention and disease control in Chihuahua. North and South American countries have struggled to maintain the 95% measles vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Health Organization. And a recent World Health Organization report said measles activity in the Americas region is up elevenfold from the same time last year and that the risk level is 'high' compared to the rest of the world's 'moderate' level. Measles cases have been confirmed in six of the region's countries — Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, the United States and Mexico — and investigating the disease's spread is labor-intensive and pricey. The response to each measles case in the U.S. costs an estimated $30,000 to $50,000, according to Dr. David Sugerman, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist. Advertisement 3 A dose of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccination awaits the next patient during a vaccine clinic at Southwestern Public Health in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, on Tuesday, March 4, 2025. AP Measles at the U.S.-Mexico border The cases in Ciudad Juarez have no direct connection to the Mennonite settlement in Chihuahua, said Rogelio Covarrubias, a health official in the border city. The first measles case in El Paso was in a child at Fort Bliss, Ocaranza said. More than half of El Paso's cases are in adults, which is unusually high, and three people have been hospitalized. The health department is holding vaccination clinics in malls and parks and says hundreds have gotten a shot. The vaccines are free — no questions asked, no matter which side of the border you live on. Communication about measles between the two health departments is 'informal' but 'very good,' Ocaranza said. Covarrubias said his team was alerted last week to a case of someone who became sick in El Paso and returned home to Juarez. Advertisement 'There is constant concern in Ciudad Juarez … because we have travelers that pass through from across the world,' Covarrubias said. 'With a possible case of measles without taking precautions, many, many people could be infected.' 3 A health worker prepares a dose of the measles vaccine in shopping mall in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 30, 2025. AP Measles at the U.S.-Canada border Michigan health officials said the outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County are linked to Ontario. The state's chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, expects to see more cases. Michigan has a 95% vaccination rate for measles, mumps and rubella, but it hides weak spots — counties with 70% vaccination rates and individual schools where just 30% of kids vaccinated. 'If we think about measles as a forest fire, we've got these burning embers that are floating in the air right now,' Bagdasarian said. 'Whether those embers result in another wildfire just depends on where they land.' In Canada, six out of 10 provinces have reported measles cases. Alberta has the second-most with 83 as of April 12, according to government data. Case counts in Ontario reached 1,020 as of Wednesday, mostly in the southwest part that borders Michigan. In one of the hardest-hit regions, Chatham-Kent Public Health officials announced a public exposure at a Mennonite church on Easter Sunday. 'It sometimes feels like we're just behind, always trying to catch up to measles,' Dr. Sarah Wilson, a public health physician for Public Health Ontario. 'It's always moving somewhere.'
Chicago Tribune
01-05-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Measles jumps borders in North America with outbreaks in Canada, Mexico and US
Dr. Hector Ocaranza knew El Paso would see measles the moment it began spreading in West Texas and eastern New Mexico. Highways connect his border city with the epicenter of Texas' massive outbreak, which is up to 663 cases. They're the same roads used by thousands of families and commercial truckers who cross into Mexico and back each day. 'Diseases know no borders,' said Ocaranza, El Paso's top public health doctor, 'so as people are mobile, they're going to be coming and receiving medical attention in El Paso but they may be living in Juarez.' It took a couple of months, but El Paso now has the highest measles case count in the state outside of West Texas with 38. Neighboring Ciudad Juarez has 14 cases as of Monday. North America's three biggest measles outbreaks continue to balloon, with more than 2,500 known cases; three people have died in the U.S. and one in Mexico. It started in the fall in Ontario, Canada; then took off in late January in Texas and New Mexico; and has rapidly spread in Chihuahua state, which is up to 786 cases since mid-February. These outbreaks are in areas with a notable population of certain Mennonite Christian communities who trace their migration over generations from Canada to Mexico to Seminole, Texas. Chihuahua health officials trace their first case to an 8-year-old Mennonite child who visited family in Seminole, got sick and spread the virus at school. And Ontario officials say their outbreak started at a large gathering in New Brunswick involving Mennonite communities. Mexican and U.S. officials also say the genetic strains of measles spreading in Canada match the other large outbreaks. 'This virus was imported, traveling country to country,' said Leticia Ruíz, director of prevention and disease control in Chihuahua. North and South American countries have struggled to maintain the 95% measles vaccination rate needed to prevent outbreaks, said Dr. Jarbas Barbosa, director of the Pan American Health Organization. And a recent World Health Organization report said measles activity in the Americas region is up elevenfold from the same time last year and that the risk level is 'high' compared to the rest of the world's 'moderate' level. Measles cases have been confirmed in six of the region's countries — Argentina, Belize, Brazil, Canada, the United States and Mexico — and investigating the disease's spread is labor-intensive and pricey. The response to each measles case in the U.S. costs an estimated $30,000 to $50,000, according to Dr. David Sugerman, a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientist. Measles at the U.S.-Mexico border The cases in Ciudad Juarez have no direct connection to the Mennonite settlement in Chihuahua, said Rogelio Covarrubias, a health official in the border city. The first measles case in El Paso was in a child at Fort Bliss, Ocaranza said. More than half of El Paso's cases are in adults, which is unusually high, and three people have been hospitalized. The health department is holding vaccination clinics in malls and parks and says hundreds have gotten a shot. The vaccines are free — no questions asked, no matter which side of the border you live on. Communication about measles between the two health departments is 'informal' but 'very good,' Ocaranza said. Covarrubias said his team was alerted last week to a case of someone who became sick in El Paso and returned home to Juarez. 'There is constant concern in Ciudad Juarez … because we have travelers that pass through from across the world,' Covarrubias said. 'With a possible case of measles without taking precautions, many, many people could be infected.' Measles at the U.S.-Canada border Michigan health officials said the outbreak of four cases in Montcalm County are linked to Ontario. The state's chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, expects to see more cases. Michigan has a 95% vaccination rate for measles, mumps and rubella, but it hides weak spots — counties with 70% vaccination rates and individual schools where just 30% of kids vaccinated. 'If we think about measles as a forest fire, we've got these burning embers that are floating in the air right now,' Bagdasarian said. 'Whether those embers result in another wildfire just depends on where they land.' In Canada, six out of 10 provinces have reported measles cases. Alberta has the second-most with 83 as of April 12, according to government data. Case counts in Ontario reached 1,020 as of Wednesday, mostly in the southwest part that borders Michigan. In one of the hardest-hit regions, Chatham-Kent Public Health officials announced a public exposure at a Mennonite church on Easter Sunday. 'It sometimes feels like we're just behind, always trying to catch up to measles,' Dr. Sarah Wilson, a public health physician for Public Health Ontario. 'It's always moving somewhere.' Originally Published: May 1, 2025 at 8:36 AM CDT
