Burnet Couny officials are cautioning the community about a possible measles infection in the community.
“There is a measles outbreak in the state, and Burnet County has one possible case that we’re currently testing,” said Burnet County Health Authority Dr. Juliette Madrigal. “It is a child.”
In west Texas, concerns surfaced several weeks ago following an outbreak of dozens of children in primarily a Mennonite community, part of a number of loosely- affiliated churches. As of Feb. 27 at least 100 cases have been identified with one death in Gaines County.
“Measles is very contagious, so for every one person who gets measles between 12 and 18 other people will be infected,” Madrigal told The Highlander. “In comparison, the common cold is 3 (more infections). COVID is 2.
“This is probably the most contagious illness we have.”
The symptoms start off as a runny nose, cough, blood-shot eyes and sometimes spots on the inner cheek. The temperature can get up to 105.
“They can get really high fever from it, and they’re contagious before they get the rash,” she said. “The rash is really what we associate it with it and know what it is, but they’re really sick, and get the rash about four days afterward.”
Those most at risk are individual who have not been vaccinated. Madrigal explained that if you have the vaccine, you have “a 99% coverage” rate.
In Burnet CISD, about 4.8% of students have opted out of the measles vaccine; In Marble Falls ISD, 3.6% of students have opted out; At Faith Academy, about 40% of students have not had full measles vaccination, Madrigal shared.
“If you have had the vaccine it’s very unlikely that you will get it,” she said. “If you’ve had the disease, which is people born between 1957, they should have really good immunity.”
Those who have not had the vaccines prior to turning 12 months old are “at high risk,” she added. About 20-25% of those who contract the virus are hospitalized.
“One of the bad outcomes is pneumonia. The kids that die of the measles die of pneumonia,” she said. “It can cause blindness, deafness, encephalitis which is swelling of the brain, dehydration.”
Madrigal explained that measles has a long incubation period.
“Some people 10 to 12 years after they’ve had measles will get a neurological problem like their leg doesn’t move or they have foot drop,” she continued. “It’s almost like multiple sclerosis type symptom that can be permanent.”
Unvaccinated mothers who are pregnant – not eligible for a measles vaccine – should take precautions to avoid those with illnesses.
Advice for those who believe they may be infected include contacting the doctor, expecting parking lot visits and testing.
“We are going to try to clamp down on other people who are exposed,” she said. “There are things we can do if they are exposed, like get them a vaccine really quickly, that may help keep them getting it as bad as they would.”
Along with children under 12 months old, those most at risk and individuals with comorbidities (other illnesses and diseases), elderly and those with immune-compromised systems.
“This one in general is worse for kids than adults,” she said.
