Lubbock health officials: 146 measles cases across West Texas; two confirmed in Lubbock County and one school‑age death reported

Lubbock — Lubbock Public Health Director Catherine Wells and local health authority Dr. Ron Cook said the regional measles outbreak has reached 146 confirmed cases across West Texas and into New Mexico, with two confirmed cases in Lubbock County and the death this week of a school‑aged child who was a resident of another county. “As of this morning, we're announcing that we've had 146 cases associated with this outbreak that is covering all of West Texas and even into New Mexico now. We have 2 confirmed cases in Lubbock County,” Wells said.

The officials held the briefing to explain the clinical presentation of measles, who is at risk and how local public‑health providers are responding. “Measles is highly, highly contagious,” Wells said, adding that most people in the area are vaccinated. Dr. Ron Cook, with Texas Tech Health Science Center and serving as the local health authority, described typical symptoms and the infectious period: “You are infectious from 4 days before that rash starts until 4 days after the rash begins…So you're infectious during that time, and so that's when we want you to make sure that you stay home.”

Why it matters: measles can cause severe complications in some patients, including pneumonia, encephalitis and, rarely, fatal delayed brain disease. Cook warned that there is no antiviral treatment…