Outbreaks Of Measles In Texas, New Mexico Sicken Nearly 100 People

The New York Times (2/22, Kwai) reported, “Outbreaks of measles in parts of Texas and New Mexico have sickened nearly 100 people, according to state health officials who warned that the number of cases was expected to rise.” One “outbreak has been spreading through the South Plains region of Texas since late January, the Texas Department of State Health Services said on Friday.” According to the Times, “measles vaccination rates in the region lag significantly below federal targets.” On Friday, the health “department confirmed 90 cases of measles, with at least 77 of them being children.” So far, 16 “people have been hospitalized, the department said.” Meanwhile, “the New Mexico Department of Health said that, as of Thursday, it had identified nine cases of measles in Lea County, which shares a border with the outbreak region in Texas.”