A middle school student in the Dallas-Fort Worth area has been diagnosed with measles, marking the first reported case in this urban region. A health official from Collin County confirmed the news, stating that the student attends Willow Springs Middle School in Lucas, which is about 30 miles north of Dallas.
The Lovejoy Independent School District, where the student is enrolled, noted that 96% of its seventh graders were vaccinated against measles for the current school year. Despite this high vaccination rate, the health department is taking the situation seriously, especially since Texas is currently experiencing a significant measles outbreak.
As of this week, Texas has reported a total of 624 confirmed cases of measles, with a majority of those—386 cases—originating from rural Gaines County. Tragically, two children in Texas have died from the disease this year.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported that there are 800 measles cases across 24 states in the U.S. The health official did not disclose whether the Lucas student had been vaccinated or if their case is linked to the ongoing outbreak in West Texas.
Collin County Health Care Services is collaborating with the school to inform students and parents about potential exposure to the virus. Measles is known for being highly contagious, and the best defense against it is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is reported to be 97% effective after two doses.
As health officials work to contain the situation, the community is reminded of the importance of vaccinations to prevent further spread of the disease.