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A measles outbreak In the plains of southern Texas continues to grow, with the number of cases that double in less than a week.
According to the beginning of at least 48 cases with the beginning of the symptoms. Health Services of the Texas State Department. More than a dozen people were hospitalized.
Fox News Digital previously reported that the Texas State Health Services Department (DSHS) warned that the outbreak involves mainly school -age children In Gaines County.
Health officials are investigating a measles outbreak in Texas. (Istock)
However, additional cases were detected in Lynn, Terry and Yoakum counties.
“Due to the Very contagious Nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and surrounding communities, “health officials wrote in a statement.
In all cases, the patient was not vaccinated or his vaccination status was unknown, according to the DSHS.
In March, several people who live in a Chicago migrants refuge gave measles positive. (AP/ERIN HOOOY)
The outbreak is under investigation.
The eruption of cases occurs more than two decades after health agencies reported that the disease was “eliminated” in 2000.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease that can be deadly, according to DSHS.
It can be extended through direct contact with infectious drops, or in the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to officials. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
A bottle of a dose of meals, mumps and vaccine against the rubella virus, made by Merck, stops in the department of health of Salt Lake County on April 26, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (George Frey/Getty images)
The symptoms usually appear within a week or two, and include high fever, cough, nasal secretion and red and aqueous eyes.
A few days later, flat red spots appear on the face and then spread around the neck towards the rest of the body. People are more contagious the four days before and four days after the eruption appears.
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Those who believe they can have measles, or may have been exposed to measles, must isolate and call their doctor before being tested, according to the DSHS.
The best way to avoid getting sick is to receive two doses of the Measles-Mojón-Rubella VaccineAccording to the officials.
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Christina Shaw of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.