LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported that as of Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, 90 cases of measles were identified in the South Plains region of Texas.
Sixteen of the patients have been hospitalized and five of the cases were vaccinated, said DSHS. The rest are unvaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown.
The number of cases in each county was:
- Dawson – 6
- Ector – 1
- Gaines – 57
- Lubbock – 1
- Lynn – 1
- Terry – 20
- Yoakum – 4
The age ranges of measles cases was:
- 0 to 4 years – 26
- 5 to 17 years – 51
- 18+ years – 10
- 3 cases are pending
DSHS said due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities.
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DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
Here are some symptoms to look out for that appear seven to 21 days after contact with the virus:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- 2-3 days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth.
- 3-5 days after symptoms begin, a rash that appears flat and red may appear on the face and hairline. This rash tends to spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet.
What to do if exposed or symptomatic:
- Isolate yourself immediately to prevent spreading the virus to others.
- Contact your healthcare provider by phone to arrange testing in a way that minimizes exposure to others (do not show up unannounced).
- Watch for symptoms, which typically develop 7 to 21 days after exposure.
- Citizens who have questions about what they should do can also call Lubbock Public Health at 806-775-2933.
What to do if you need immediate medical care:
- Follow any signage on facility doors.
- Take protective measures such as wearing a mask when you enter the facility.
- Inform the front desk that you think you may have measles or if you’ve been around someone with confirmed measles.
- Limit the number of people who enter the facility, if possible send one person inside to register.
When to seek immediate emergency care:
- High fever (over 103°F).
- Severe cough or difficulty breathing.
- Signs of severe complications like seizures, confusion, or extreme fatigue/weakness.
- Dehydration.