After having spent more than 42 days since the last new measles case, the Texas public health authorities declared the end of the disease outbreak. The last person with a case related to the outbreak presented an eruption on July 1, according to state data.
The measles outbreak in Texas ill 762 people since the end of January. Of these, two unvaccinated children died to the causes of the virus at the beginning of the year, and 100 people were hospitalized. This outbreak extended to 37 counties, and was linked to outbreaks in Canada, Mexico and other US states, remember Associated Press (AP).
Measles in the US
According to statistics, this has been the worst year of measles in the United States in more than three decades, while decreasing the child vaccination rate against the virus and more parents request exemptions from school requirements.
The United States confirmed 1356 cases throughout its territory until August 5, according to data from disease control and prevention centers. The third death for measles in the country dates from March, being the victim an adult not vaccinated in New Mexico.
At least in 19 states there have been measles outbreaks this year. On the other side of the border, in Chihuahua, Mexico, an outbreak that began with a child who visited Gaines County, shot the cases to 3854, with 13 deaths. Another outbreak in Ontario, Canada, started in October, getting sick to 2362 people to date and killing one. And 1762 people have ill in Alberta, Canada, registered AP.
Reported case in Colorado
On the other hand, Colorado Health officials reported on Monday a second case of measles in table county, which deepened the concern about a possible silent transmission of the virus.
This new case involves an adult with a state of unknown vaccination, and raises the total number of measles infections this year in Colorado residents to 21, more than three times the amount of infections reported in the previous decade.
Summy detection and symptoms
The detection and symptoms of measles are usually presented as follows:
- Incubation period: lasts between 10 and 14 days after exposure to the virus, without symptoms visible at the beginning.
- Initial symptoms (prodromes): fever, dry cough, drip or nasal congestion (rhinorrhea), throat pain and conjunctivitis (inflamed, red and crying eyes). Light sensitivity (photophobia) can occur.
- Koplik spots: small white spots with a bluish white center on the inner face of the cheeks, inside the mouth. They are an early sign characteristic of measles and appear before the eruption in the skin.
- Cutaneous eruption (Exanthema): It emerges approximately 3 to 5 days after the first symptoms. The eruption usually begins in the face, behind the ears and in the neck, then extending to the trunk, arms, legs, including palms and plants. The spots can be red, flat or slightly high and tend to merge in red patches. Fever can increase abruptly at this stage.
- Other symptoms: general discomfort, muscle aches, fatigue and in severe cases, prostration.
The eruption usually lasts about 5 to 7 days before fading, and the skin can fall later. Fever and other symptoms gradually disappear during recovery.
The diagnosis is often based on the presence of the typical eruption along with the Koplik spots. In some cases, laboratory tests can be performed to confirm the infection.
It is important to highlight that measles is highly contagious and can be dangerous, especially in young children, people with the weakened immune system and pregnant women.
These symptoms occur in stages for a total period of approximately 2 to 3 weeks from infection to recovery.
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