[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6268955,"mediaKeyId","3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358","parentId",3048443,"title","Lubbock added to outbreak zone; officials lower age for MMR amid multi‑county measles spread","audioSeconds",266,"startMs",45000,"endMs",311000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358&start=45&end=311","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358/thumbnail_45000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268955/Lubbock/Lubbock-County/Texas/Lubbock-added-to-outbreak-zone-officials-lower-age-for-MMR-amid-multicounty-measles-spread","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268955-c231c103a0e20dde6eee4051e143a974/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192796&Signature=Z4dcxdULxGsohpXI14CD~td-LjRIkkNK3GzwOa0pfmSnS5RUbiwLlPc5hACKPpd3Tp0es4rP7T6uHryvel3R5ZTraAff3u1yKJHGg6shC75wmZceoITTl7u1Mf1DL50QIt6-lM5H5PYtALx7lmbcd3zQYAphXTr0Ny2sdQWCFAW~WHFUvOZVNpyzS~3GjqPf89E-yxGXFJ5YqJYxWeSCYJx3wHsJrUywV4DWz9lsRf-iAm8KiIYgKV1Hjpr4FRqclCYRUtegX5Os4qOjdkw0rtv7yyZj1X0m0BPVROArflLHRRlXzqXpw89x8-o-jUygqaUxAoXrVv3uWnHp73hQtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Lubbock TX","date","2025-04-17T22:45:01Z","article","Lubbock Public Health announced that the measles outbreak that began in January 2025 has spread across West Texas and into neighboring states, and that the Texas Department of State Health Services on April 7 expanded its designated outbreak zone to include Lubbock County.

The designation means Lubbock County residents should follow revised MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccination recommendations, including offering a first, early MMR dose to infants as young as 6 months, public health officials said.

Dr. Catherine Wells, a Lubbock Public Health official, said the outbreak’s first two confirmed cases were children from Gaines County who were hospitalized in Lubbock and “these marked the first confirmed cases of measles in the South Plains in over 20 years.” She said the outbreak has since spread to “over 23 other counties in Texas” and that there are cases in El Paso and more than 100 additional cases associated with the same outbreak in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Kansas.

Why it matters: health officials said community transmission — including exposures without an identifiable source and a daycare outbreak — has raised risk for infants and other vulnerable people who rely on Lubbock for regional medical care. “When we first started seeing measles cases, public health or the hospitals could always tie that to some type of medical exposure or an exposure within a home,” Wells said. “Since then … we’ve seen outbreaks where people are coming down with measles and we don't know where they got it from.”

Revised guidance and availability: the health department’s updated recommendations published during the conference call for an early MMR dose for children 6 months to 11 months, followed by the routine doses after age 1 and before kindergarten; children 12 months and older who are not vaccinated should receive two MMR doses 28 days apart. Wells said the guidance applies to residents of listed West Texas counties including Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamb, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum, and that vaccines are available at the Lubbock Health Department, pharmacies and pediatric or primary care offices.

Vaccination uptake: Wells said the health department has administered “over 450 additional vaccines than we would normally” through regular clinics since the local response began. She also said local pediatric offices have been busy with phone calls and vaccinations.

Health partners and consultation: Wells said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provided infection-control consultations to evaluate clinical airflow and other factors at physician offices and a daycare facility, which helped officials identify who needed to be sent home and how to reduce risk in health-care settings.

Officials did not announce new mandates or ordered closures at the news conference; they urged residents to check vaccination status and to follow the health department’s posted guidance for specific age groups.

Ending: the health department said updated guidance, maps of the outbreak zone and vaccine locations are available on the City of Lubbock website and that residents should contact their provider or the health department to arrange vaccination.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lubbock Public Health MMR Vaccine News Conference - April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Lubbock Public Health announced that the measles outbreak that began in January 2025 has spread across West Texas and into neighboring states, and that the Texas Department of State Health Services on April 7 expanded its designated outbreak zone to include Lubbock County.","taxTitle","Lubbock, Lubbock County, Texas","taxId",2806,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268945,"Pharmacist and pediatricians stress MMR safety and counter misinformation — vitamin A not a substitute",1020,382000,1402000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358&start=382&end=1402","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358/thumbnail_382000.jpg","/articles/6268945/Lubbock/Lubbock-County/Texas/Pharmacist-and-pediatricians-stress-MMR-safety-and-counter-misinformation-vitamin-A-not-a-substitute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268945-7855bcae8469b018f26d0fbb9a06b22c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192796&Signature=meg5p7-lufphliE17t8NQ8zYuu1ouaSRq~yfC1bQMsjymEKwAOwLNoQLev-Sb08Al6mDZUvNwPr9SIxkZtCjY4HcVlHysDfy44Wmm2JayKXY49WzXfOMo9g9dnsdP1ORzL4lerlNqjDIcNRmZ0FwY~ZNr4QejEYhmI7JYLfMVf2zirY120kQAf1BeUh-gPS12UszCGTyR-5Bw422AThhcKj7BdCBlRhp62kbTQrqCks4h8RH7At5ij-ieCirt81lr4vC6U7YyWWWSHv2Qa~P26e2bHOONtFWt6NNYP159h8I6NYCs~jdB7AJcI1jG0zQ91ORofazjg56ElEI8w5OkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Lubbock Public Health news conference described how the MMR vaccine works, summarized its safety profile and urged residents to rely on established medical guidance rather than unproven remedies.

Crockett Tidwell, a local pharmacist, used an analogy to explain vaccination: “A vaccine … show[s] your body exactly what the disease looks like without making you sick,” and that prior vaccination allows the immune system to respond immediately on exposure. Tidwell emphasized the community benefit: the more people who are immune, the fewer opportunities the virus has to reach people who are vulnerable.

Dr. Ron Cook discussed vaccine safety and historical use, saying the MMR vaccine has been widely used for decades and that reported deaths linked to the vaccine have not been confirmed as caused by vaccination. Dr. Cook noted that in 2024 the United States had nine deaths associated with measles (the disease), and stressed that vaccine‑associated deaths were not reported in CDC investigations.

Dr. Anna Montanez addressed claims in some communities that vitamin A or other supplements could prevent or treat measles, saying vitamin A is not a substitute for vaccination and unsupervised dosing can cause organ damage. “Vitamin A is not a treatment for measles. It is not protective against measles. The only thing that is protective against measles is the MMR vaccine,” Montanez said.

Why it matters: officials said vaccine safety explanations and direct conversations with families can change minds. They called misinformation “our biggest nemesis” and urged health-care providers and community leaders to continue clear, accurate outreach.

Ending: health officials and clinicians encouraged residents with questions about vaccination to contact their pediatrician, pharmacy or the Lubbock Health Department.","Local pharmacists and pediatricians explained how vaccines train the immune system, summarized known side effects, and said vitamin A or other home remedies are not substitutes for MMR. Officials called misinformation a major barrier to outbreak control.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268950,"Clinicians: no antiviral for measles; treatment is supportive as some cases require respiratory support",0,965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358&start=965&end=965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3048443-5bba07fdd33774a7b8f4605c4a4d2358/thumbnail_965000.jpg","/articles/6268950/Lubbock/Lubbock-County/Texas/Clinicians-no-antiviral-for-measles-treatment-is-supportive-as-some-cases-require-respiratory-support","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268950-283b61371645891365cc406cb88af6d2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771192796&Signature=TP4hhixubviOWMvn30zVupfXuDEmLBsMnGzGvJu9sSxIeWvbJcnfO27mE~Oa~72i70P2TunfSenohO8gbapje6UoS3-Oq1e8a64bp7iK9RUwgb9Oc1M9oGzp1J34O844nu9y1-bci4GwJXDa0zveIszDZBHqzLJEfrLeEvPRf30mTKa60ehFFrdmDtYTwOQJnYW~fvsQbF3BTuTDe2kOx2Y1KTtD3rgFqUHbIJ~gMZkO6Q8u3BWfJ8YuHFlLeWZG6oZk393TQeVjYRqARb4YAvYAf4K6RYpWESAXYJwhfDGSk-HMyv2I5xjgMwVpp7fGM78BbLX8IJZLEuvsnIF6gA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Local clinicians at the Lubbock Public Health news conference outlined how measles presents, the complications clinicians watch for and how cases are managed because there is no specific antiviral treatment for measles.

Dr. Anna Montanez, a general pediatrician in Lubbock, said: “There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles.” She told reporters that clinical care centers on treating symptoms such as cough, fever, sore throat and conjunctivitis, and preventing complications including pneumonia and encephalitis. Montanez noted a rare, fatal long-term complication — subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — can occur years after infection.

Why it matters: clinicians said measles can cause severe inflammation of the lungs and brain and that respiratory failure from measles-associated pneumonia can require advanced respiratory support. A physician at the conference described respiratory failure as the point at which the lungs can no longer provide sufficient oxygen and said supportive measures range from supplemental oxygen to intubation and ventilatory support while the patient’s immune system recovers.

Use of immune globulin after exposure: speakers confirmed that intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) remains a tool to protect high-risk exposed infants who cannot mount a vaccine response and that it is “highly effective.”

Deaths and underreporting: physicians at the event cited recent mortality linked to the outbreak — two deaths in Texas and one in New Mexico discussed during the conference — and referenced a CDC historical estimate of 1 to 3 deaths per 1,000 measles cases. One clinician noted underreporting in some rural counties because families may manage symptoms at home and not seek testing, which complicates case counts.

Ending: clinicians urged residents to confirm vaccination status and seek medical attention for severe symptoms such as difficulty breathing, persistent high fever or signs of neurological involvement.","Local pediatricians and physicians described typical measles progression, possible complications including pneumonia and encephalitis, and said there is no specific antiviral — care focuses on symptom management and, for some exposed infants, immune globulin (IVIG).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lubbock added to outbreak zone; officials lower age for MMR amid multi‑county measles spread

Pharmacist and pediatricians stress MMR safety and counter misinformation — vitamin A not a substitute

Clinicians: no antiviral for measles; treatment is supportive as some cases require respiratory support