Austin measles case confirmed by well being officers; unrelated to Texas outbreak

AUSTIN, Texas — Well being officers say they’ve confirmed a case of measles in Austin.

Throughout a press briefing Friday, Austin Public Well being confirmed that an unvaccinated toddler was uncovered to measles whereas touring abroad. Everybody else within the kid’s household is vaccinated.

Officers stated contact tracing is full and they do not anticipate further exposures. The kid and their members of the family are all remoted at dwelling.

“It actually raises our degree of concern, our degree of readiness, however we have been prepared,” Austin Travis County Public Well being Authority Dr. Desmar Walkes stated. “We have been planning for over a 12 months for the potential of a measles outbreak, as a result of we have recognized that our vaccination charge has been declining. We have been working onerous to get folks vaccinated, and we’re calling for folks to get vaccinated now, in the event that they’re unvaccinated, to guard themselves.”

Walkes stated the case shouldn’t be associated to an ongoing measles outbreak within the South Plains area of Texas, the place 146 instances have been reported as of Friday, Feb. 28. Twenty of the sufferers have been hospitalized, and one unvaccinated youngster has died, marking the primary measles demise within the U.S. in a decade.

Measles is very contagious and spreads by way of the air when an contaminated particular person coughs or sneezes. To provide you a way of how contagious this virus is, medical doctors say if one particular person has it, as much as 9 out of 10 folks close by will turn into contaminated if they aren’t protected.

“The measles virus can survive within the air and on surfaces for as much as two hours after the contaminated particular person has left the realm,” Walkes stated. “Individuals who have direct contact by way of coughs or sneezes ought to monitor for signs for as much as 21 days after publicity.”

Native well being officers stress that there is no such thing as a native outbreak, however they are saying now could be the time to take precautions and put together.

The MMR – measles-mumps-rubella – vaccine is very efficient in defending towards measles. In response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC), one dose of the MMR vaccine is 93% efficient towards measles and two doses are 97% efficient towards the illness.

“We all know easy methods to fight this, and we want that vaccination charge to extend in our neighborhood by coming collectively, getting vaccinated, and prioritizing public well being,” Travis County Decide Andy Brown stated. “We are able to do that collectively. The steps are easy. Get vaccinated if you have not already.”

In response to state well being information, Travis County’s MMR vaccination charge amongst kindergarteners is slightly below 90%. Medical doctors say communities want 95% immunization charges to have “herd immunity.”

One factor that worries native leaders is the below 90% vaccination charge amongst kindergarteners at some faculties, which well being officers stated will increase the chance of an outbreak by 51%.

“We’re persevering with to work with these faculty directors to get vaccines in arms,” Walkes stated. “We have been having clinics. Our cellular staff has been educating households, and we’re persevering with that work and that effort. It will be ongoing till we get the job accomplished and get the message to folks that want to listen to it.”

Well being officers stated children as younger as a 12 months previous can get their first dose of the MMR vaccine and the second after they’re between 4 and 6 years previous. 

“If all people else had their children vaccinated on the correct ages, this may not be a problem,” Brown stated. “By not vaccinating your youngster on the correct ages of 12 to fifteen months after which once more at 4 to six years, you are placing different toddler kids in danger. You are placing our neighborhood’s lives in danger. You are placing our economic system’s life in danger.”

If a dad or mum goes to an space the place measles is prevalent, Walkes stated the kid must be vaccinated earlier, at six to eleven months. Walkes stated that steerage could change if we see extra instances within the Austin space.

“If we do have an outbreak the place we see greater than three or extra instances in our space, then we’ll change our steerage,” Walkes stated.

In response to the Texas Division of State Well being Providers (DSHS), of the 146 instances, 98 have been reported in Gaines County, and 21 have been reported in close by Terry County. Many of the instances have been amongst kids. 

DSHS stories that 79 of the 146 sufferers had been unvaccinated, 62 have unknown vaccination standing, and 5 have obtained at the very least one dose of the MMR vaccine.

Whereas there is no such thing as a native outbreak proper now, Walkes stated she and her staff are ready for the worst however are hoping for the very best.

“We have been in touch with our hospital companions and clinics and folk throughout our jurisdiction, and they’re prepared and ready and have processes in place to deal with individuals who could contact them saying that they’ve signs of measles,” Walkes stated.

One other major concern for native leaders is South by Southwest (SXSW) beginning subsequent weekend. As tons of of 1000’s of individuals descend upon Downtown Austin, they do not need that to turn into a brilliant spreader occasion. They’re encouraging these locally who aren’t vaccinated to get vaccinated. Town and well being division say they’re working with organizers on well being precautions for the occasion.

“We work in collaboration with Austin Particular Occasions to assist them mitigate and strategize for well being precautions for occasions,” Walkes stated. “Our staff has been in touch with them and our enterprise companions throughout town.”

Anybody trying to get the vaccine can achieve this at physician’s workplaces and pharmacies. The well being division gives the MMR vaccine at its “Photographs for Tots” and “Large Photographs” clinics. You could find details about these right here. Youngsters below the age of 14 do want a prescription from a health care provider to get the vaccine at a pharmacy.