Health Officials Say 5 Cases Of Measles Confirmed In Texas

The three individuals involved in the new cases were in close contact with the first Multnomah County resident who tested positive for measles January 25, according to the Oregon Health Authority.

Three Multnomah County residents are confirmed to have been diagnosed with measles.

In Harris County, two boys and a woman are being treated for measles.

This is the seventh confirmed case of measles in Texas in the past week.

Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease specialist at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, said measles peaks in the late winter or early spring.

Updated at 10:25 p.m.: Revised to include a sixth case confirmed by state health officials.

The Houston outbreak comes as new cases of measles are being confirmed in Washington state on a daily basis, and other cases have been confirmed in Oregon, Georgia, and NY.

"The picture for 2018 makes it clear that the current pace of progress in raising immunization rates will be insufficient to stop measles circulation". Three outbreaks-in New York state, New York City and Washington state-were associated with travelers who had been to Israel and Ukraine, where large measles outbreaks have occurred.

Measles is a highly contagious, airborne virus that can be spread through coughing and sneezing.

A state of emergency was announced recently in the western US state of Washington after a measles outburst that has impacted over two dozen people and the majority of them are children. For full protection, one dose is suggested at 12 to 15 months and another at 4 to 6 years old.

"Getting vaccinated protects you as well as those who are unable to receive vaccines due to age or medical conditions", said Michelle Beall, Pharm.D., Clinical Pharmacist, Brookshire Grocery Company.

A hallmark of measles is a rash that begins as flat, red spots on the face and spreads down the neck to the rest of the body. DCPH encourages individuals with signs and symptoms of measles to contact their health care provider prior to visiting.

The number of cases reported is "the highest this decade" the World Health Organization said in a statement noting the numbers are "3 times the total reported in 2017 and 15 times the record low number of people affected in 2016".