City of Houston Announces First Measles Case Since 2018

The Houston Health Department announced that two adults who live together have contracted measles, they contracted the disease through international travel and their vaccination history is unknown. According to the World Health Organization, measles is a “highly contagious disease caused by a virus. It spreads easily when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes. It can cause severe disease, complications, and even death.” The disease is most common in children but can affect anyone. The disease affects the upper respiratory tract and eventually spreads throughout the whole body, symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough, and rash all over the body. This is the first reported measles case in Houston, since 2018. The disease can stay in the air for up to two hours after the infected person has left the area, it is one of the world’s most contagious diseases. Measles is considered deadly for children under 5 and those with weakened immune systems. The vaccine is required for students who go to public schools in the United States, unless they have a religious exemption. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends that all children receive the MMR vaccine. The measles vaccine was created in 1963, before the vaccine measle...