GAINES CO. — The Texas Department of State Health Services said on Friday there have been ten confirmed cases of measles in Gaines County. DSHS labeled it as a measles outbreak in the county.

All cases are unvaccinated Gaines County residents, according to DSHS.

Eight of the cases were among school-aged children and two cases were under the age of five. Seven of the patients have been hospitalized as of Friday.

DSHS is working with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak.

“The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine,” DSHS said. “Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.”