Suspected measles cases test negative
A 3D rendering of the microscopic measles virus. Adobe Stock image
The test results for three suspected cases of measles reported in Burnet County are negative, according to the local health authority. The news comes amid an outbreak of the potentially deadly virus across Texas.
Burnet County Health Authority Dr. Juliette Madrigal said the three local cases were reported between Feb. 27 and March 10. Testing was done by the state.
A measles outbreak in West Texas and the Panhandle began in late January. As of Tuesday, March 18, there have been 279 confirmed cases, 36 hospitalizations, and one death reported in the state.
Burnet County is hundreds of miles away from the primary infection zones, but Dr. Madrigal warned that a potential outbreak in the county could be imminent due to the virus’ highly contagious nature and the number of unvaccinated children in the area.
Specifically, she cited the approximately 40 percent of Faith Academy of Marble Falls students who filed for conscientious exemptions from standard immunizations in the 2023-24 school year, meaning they are not required to get basic vaccinations due to reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs.
“Measles is the most contagious virus that I’ve ever heard of,” she told DailyTrib.com in a March 4 interview. “I would be flabbergasted if we don’t have a measles outbreak here.”
Dr. Madrigal’s role as Burnet County’s health authority requires her to report the potential presence of contagious, infectious, and dangerous diseases within her jurisdiction to the state.
While measles is incredibly infectious, with each infected person potentially transmitting to another 12-18 susceptible individuals, it can be stopped with 93 percent effectiveness by the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, often referred to as the MMR. Children usually receive two doses of the MMR, once between the ages of 12-15 months and again when they are 4-6 years old. After the vaccination is administered, recipients are typically fully protected within two to three weeks.
About one in 1,000 measles cases result in death and about one in four patients are hospitalized, according to the National Institute of Health. For perspective, about 0.018 per 1,000 people infected with influenza die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles is characterized by flulike symptoms and a distinct, red rash. In extreme cases, it can lead to pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain.
The virus has been mostly eradicated from the United States due to an extensive vaccination campaign that began in the 1970s, but periodic outbreaks still take place in certain communities with unvaccinated populations.
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Hello, this is Dakota Morrissiey, the author of the article. I updated the story to include how long it takes for the vaccine to take effect. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it takes about two to three weeks for a recipient of the vaccine to be fully protected from the virus.