DeTar Healthcare System is urging residents in Victoria and the Crossroads area to take proactive steps to protect themselves and their families as Texas experiences a significant measles outbreak. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed 124 measles cases in the state since late January, and the first death, an unvaccinated school-aged child, was reported on February 25. The outbreak has been centered in the South Plains and Panhandle regions, but serves as a strong reminder of the importance of vaccination and vigilance across all of South Texas.
Measles is an extremely contagious respiratory virus that spreads easily through coughing, sneezing, or coming into contact with droplets from an infected person. It poses the greatest risk to young children, pregnant individuals, and those with compromised immune systems, and can lead to severe health issues.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, roughly one out of every five people infected during an outbreak ends up needing hospital care, with complications ranging from pneumonia and brain swelling (encephalitis) to premature birth and, in rare instances, death. DSHS also emphasizes that the most reliable way to protect yourself and your family from measles is to receive the recommended two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, typically given as part of the measles- mumps-rubella (MMR) immunization series. Receiving both doses offers strong protection against the virus.
