Texas Measles Cases Reach 624

Reuters (4/22, Sunny) reports the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) “reported 624 cases of measles in the state on Tuesday, an increase of 27 from April 18.” State health officials said cases in Gaines County, “the center of the outbreak, rose to 386 from 371 reported on Friday.” A total of 64 patients “have been hospitalized in Texas, while two unvaccinated children with no underlying health conditions have died of measles in the state.” Meanwhile, New Mexico’s health department “reported 65 cases on Tuesday, up by two cases from its last update.” Most of the state’s cases are located in Lea County, which shares a border with Gaines County. ABC News (4/22, Kekatos) reports DSHS data show that “nearly all of the cases are among unvaccinated individuals or among those whose vaccination status is unknown.” As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 800 measles cases in at least 24 states. Bloomberg (4/22, Nix, Subscription Publication) also provides coverage.