Many of you have heard about the Measles outbreak and may be worried - is it near me? Is it here in San Saba County?
The information from the February 27th update from Marsha Hardy, San Saba County Emergency Management Coordinator, has not changed: The San Saba County of Emergency Management verified confirmation from the Texas Department of State Health Services that “there are no Measles cases within Region 7; there is testing being done but no cases”… I checked with Mrs. Hardy on Monday, March 3rd, and there are still no confirmed cases in San Saba County.
The San Saba News & Star will keep you updated on the local situation with the Measles outbreak.
Below is the most recent article on the Measles outbreak written by Gary Borders (State Capital Highlights):
First measles fatality recorded in West Texas as cases rise
A measles outbreak in West Texas has resulted in the death of a school-aged child, and 146 cases have been identified as of Friday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. DSHS predicts more cases are likely to occur, given the highly contagious nature of the disease.
An additional case was reported in an adult living in Rockwall County, in North Texas. An adult male tested positive after traveling out of the country. State officials say he was not vaccinated. The man spent about a week in a hospital but is now recovering at home.
Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital, told the Houston Chronicle also believes the outbreak, the state’s largest in 30 years, will continue to increase because of a growing number of children who are not being vaccinated. The Centers for Disease Control estimates nine in 10 people who are not vaccinated will become infected if exposed to measles.
“I think these numbers will continue to accelerate for a while,” Hotez said. “So this is going to be a very large, very dangerous measles epidemic.”
Gary Borders is a veteran award-winning Texas journalist. He published a number of community newspapers in Texas during a 30-year span, including in Longview, Fort Stockton, Nacogdoches, Lufkin and Cedar Park. Email: gborders@texaspress.com.