Measles Case Confirmed in Brewster County Linked to West Texas Outbreak

Measles Case Confirmed in Brewster County Linked to West Texas Outbreak

On Thursday, state and local health officials announced the confirmation of a measles case in Brewster County, marking the first incidence in the Big Bend region amid a significant outbreak that has been affecting West Texas near the New Mexico border since earlier this year.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported that this Brewster County case is directly linked to the ongoing outbreak, which has escalated to over 700 cases since it originated in Gaines County at the end of January. Initially, the case was not identified as being part of the larger outbreak; however, a follow-up investigation provided crucial information that established this connection.

The infected individual is an Alpine man in his 60s who, according to Brewster County Judge Greg Henington, "probably was vaccinated, but not sufficiently." Henington characterized the man’s symptoms as “extremely mild,” noting that he may have already recovered from the illness. He recounted that the man had initially sought medical attention believing he had a rash, which subsequently led to blood tests confirming measles.

This case raises several questions regarding vaccination efficacy, as the individual likely received his vaccinations but had insufficient immunity. The man, whose profession in the oil field requires considerable travel, may have contributed to the spread of infection within his community.

Importantly, Brewster County does not operate a local health department, and plans for contact tracing in this case were not active as of the announcement. The lack of immediate local health responses highlights potential gaps in public health infrastructure that may be critical as infections rise.

In response to the outbreak, the DSHS indicated that the Brewster County case would be added to their list of counties with confirmed measles cases. It is worth noting that the department estimates fewer than 10 cases are currently actively infectious, and as of Thursday, only 15 cases had not been traced back to the original outbreak.

In a positive indication, last Friday marked the reporting of only nine new measles cases across Texas, the lowest count since the start of the outbreak. Currently, seven counties in Texas remain on the state’s list of designated outbreak areas. To be removed from this list, each county must observe a 42-day period without new cases.

Public health officials continue to advocate for vaccination as the most effective means of measles prevention. The state health department emphasizes that receiving two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine can prevent 97% of measles infections, underscoring the critical role vaccination plays in public health. As the outbreak progresses, the focus on vaccination will remain paramount to curb the spread of this highly contagious disease.