DHR Health: Measles, a problem

Editor's Note: This story has been updated to include the information about the measles death in Lubbock.

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With regard to measles, there’s good news and bad news.

The good news is, based on state data, approximately 96 percent of residents in Hidalgo County are vaccinated against measles, which is considered by those in the public health sector to offer herd immunity.

Meaning, most of us are protected.

The bad news is, approximately four percent are not if indeed herd immunity is not an absolute.

The bad news also includes a recent measles outbreak in the northwest part of the state, along with parts of New Mexico, that has local and state health officials worried, since measles is, after all, the most contagious infectious disease known to humans. (Source: Johns Hopkins University.)

Measles were out of the news for almost the past 20 years ever since the CDC declared the virus all but eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, thanks to high vaccination rates.

That’s when the so-called anti-vaxxers crawled out of the woodwork, so to speak, claiming that it was safer for kids not to get vaccinated.

Ironically, Bobby Kennedy, Jr., was one of “those guys,” but has since walked back some of his previous anti-vax quotes. During his speech to the staff at Health and Human Services last week, after his Senate confirmation and swearing in, he gave a speech to his staff in which he said he was not anti-vax and was going into his new job with an open mind, willing and ready to look at all the science in evidence.

According to CDC, that scientific evidence shows that if children receive two shots to protect against measles, the vaccine is 97 percent effective in protecting against the virus.

During his confirmation hearings, though, Kennedy also brought up a good point — the U.S. spends more per capita on children’s health care compared to other high-income countries, but we have the world’s highest rate of childhood chronic morbidity (disease), when measured up against those same high-income countries.

Off topic, but there you have it.

Texas Changes School Law

At one point in time, approximately 25-plus years ago, Texas schools required that when a child’s parents register for school, proof of the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, and rubella) was also entered into the system.

The Republican-led state legislature changed that law so the parent could opt-out if they clicked off the box, no vaccines, for religious reasons.

In 2003, the lege took it a step further and passed a new law that said parents could also opt out of the school requirement for “philosophical reasons,” AKA, a conscientious exemption.

No one knew what that really meant, but it sounded good for parents opposed to “government overreach,” and/or those stoked on the anti-vax conspiracy theories.

That change in the law never really filtered down to the RGV, where parents still, by and large, vaccinated their children.

Ten years ago, the Houston Chronicle carried a story with this headline: "Abbott: Parents should be able to opt out of vaccine mandates."

The 2015 story’s opening paragraph told the story: “Weighing in on a national debate, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott made clear this week that he supports laws that include exemptions to requirements that parents vaccinate their children.”

DHR Sounds Alarm

This week, DHR Health sent out a media advisory (Tuesday) trying to make sure that the general public understands exactly how important the measles vaccine really is.

According to the advisory:

“While no cases have been documented in the Rio Grande Valley so far, the outbreak in North Texas has risen to 90 cases. Additionally, recent exposures in San Antonio raise concerns, especially with Spring Break approaching, which could possibly increase the risk of spread.”

Local Pediatrician Dr. Jennifer Saenz would be on hand to discuss the importance of measles vaccination for children.

As a wrap-up, here is some more info on measles and the vaccine, courtesy of the CDC and Google’s AI, which protects us and our children from catching the virus, even if we got vaccinated decades ago:

1. Measles is a serious disease:

Highly contagious: Measles spreads very easily through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Complications: It can lead to serious complications like pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), and even death.

Vulnerable populations: Young children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems are especially at risk.

2. The vaccine is safe and effective:

MMR vaccine: The measles vaccine is usually given as part of the MMR vaccine, which also protects against mumps and rubella.

Two doses: Two doses are recommended for full protection:

• First dose: 12-15 months old
• Second dose: 4-6 years old

High effectiveness: Two doses of the MMR vaccine are about 97% effective at preventing measles.

3. Protects the community:

Herd immunity: When a high percentage of the population is vaccinated, it creates 'herd immunity,' which helps protect those who can't be vaccinated (like infants or people with certain medical conditions).

Outbreak prevention: High vaccination rates help prevent outbreaks of measles, which can have devastating consequences.

Measles Death
The Texas Department of State Health Services recently reported in a Wednesday release that there was a first death from measles in the ongoing outbreak that is occurring in the South Plains and Panhandle regions.

The organization announced that the school-aged child was not vaccinated and was in a Lubbock hospital last week, in which they tested positive for measles.