[Health] The Infectious Diseases Thread

[Isgrimnur]

Measles alerts issued in San Antonio, New Braunfels and San Marcos as Texas outbreak spreads

Officials say an individual who tested positive for the virus in West Texas traveled to two major universities and one of the nation's busiest tourist attractions — the San Antonio River Walk.

Comal County public health officials also report the individual stopped in at a large New Braunfels travel center.

Friday, February 14th:

Texas State University in San Marcos from approximately 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Twin Peaks restaurant in San Marcos from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday, February 15th:

The University of Texas at San Antonio Main Campus between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
San Antonio River Walk attractions— Wax Museum, Ripley’s Believe It or Not and Ripley’s Illusion Lab between 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m on Saturday, February 15th.
Mr. Crabby's Seafood and Bar in Live Oak between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

Sunday, February 16th:

New Braunfels Buc-ees between 9 a.m. and noon.

[Kraken]

Wow, it's going viral.

[Smoove_B]

It's up to 124 cases now:

The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. At this time, 124 cases have been identified since late January. Eighteen of the patients have been hospitalized. Five of the cases are vaccinated. The rest are unvaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown.

This single outbreak has already exceeded the total number of annual cases each year between 2020 and 2024. We'll have to see how it compares to total US cases in 2019 (1274), which was an outlier - Nature is healing!

[gilraen]

And of course, outbreaks of measles are usually followed by outbreaks of other childhood illnesses since measles can cause prolonged immunosuppression up to and including immunity amnesia.

[stessier]

The first chapter of Everything is Tuberculosis. I suspect this might be making a comeback in the US for some reason.

[Smoove_B]

It's on my short list to read...and yes, I do think we're going to be hearing more about TB soon.

But for now, we have the first death from the TX measles outbreak. It's the first measles death in the United States in a decade.

A person who was hospitalized with measles has died from measles in West Texas, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month.

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center spokesperson Melissa Whitfield confirmed the death Wednesday. It wasn’t clear the age of the patient, who died overnight.

I am also not familiar enough with the area to know what's happening, but found this to be illuminating:

The outbreak is largely spreading in the Mennonite community in an area where small towns are separated by vast stretches of oil rig-dotted open land but connected due to people traveling between towns for work, church, grocery shopping and other day-to-day errands.

I don't think I knew TX had a Mennonite community - I'm only familiar with them from PA and OH.

[stessier]

I don't think I knew TX had a Mennonite community - I'm only familiar with them from PA and OH.

Indiana too! And I think there are some in either Western NC or Northeast SC.

[Isgrimnur]

https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/new ... 194038007/

[Grifman]

Texas is debating loosening vaccination rules, allowing parents to opt out:

https://kvia.com/news/el-paso/2025/01/2 ... ationwide/

How did we get so stupid?

[Isgrimnur]

We’ve always been this stupid. Humanity is a bucket of crabs. We rise not because of our inherent nature, but by the efforts of those who strive to overcome it, constantly fighting those who would keep everyone in a state of intellectual squalor.

[Blackhawk]

I like that. Thanks.

[Isgrimnur]

Thanks, I hate it.

[Smoove_B]

I'm beginning to think TX has a measles problem

ROCKWALL COUNTY, Texas — The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has confirmed the first case of measles in Rockwall County, according to a news release.

The DSHS stated that the confirmed case of measles was discovered in an unvaccinated adult resident and was reported to their department on Feb. 25.

"All direct contacts of this individual have been notified for observation," the Rockwall County Health Authority said.

The Rockwall County Emergency Management Department confirmed to WFAA that the patient is currently hospitalized. The department and DSHS also said the patient recently traveled internationally.

[Zaxxon]

I’m sure everything will be fine…

[Smoove_B]

Yeah, I kinda guessed that last week when this week's meeting was cancelled. We're in uncharted territory at this point - I'm not sure what would happen without various federal committee meetings to plan/approve the flu shot formulation. I mean, besides lots of old and medically vulnerable people dying next winter.

If you told me 6 months ago it would be possible there wouldn't be a Fall 2025 flu vaccine produced I'd say you were crazy. Now? I cannot rule it out.

[Zarathud]

If Trump and RFK fail on the fall flu vaccine, employers and the news will be unhappy. It will be too late, but that breakage will have undeniable consequences.