LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) reported 561 cases in the ongoing measles outbreak as of Tuesday, April 15.

DSHS said 58 patients were hospitalized. The outbreak area includes Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum counties. Gaines County still had the highest amount with 364 cases. Lubbock had 41 cases, which included approximately seven children at a local daycare who tested positive for measles.

EverythingLubbock.com previously reported that a second child, an 8-year-old girl, passed away due to measles at a Lubbock hospital. The first death was reported in late February. Both children were unvaccinated and did not have known underlying health issues, according to officials.

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. previously stated, “The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”

Lubbock Public Health posted updated guidelines for the measles vaccine, stating infants from six to 11 months old can get an early dose.

Measles is a highly contagious viral infection that spreads through the air and can linger for hours when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Health officials said measles can lead to dangerous complications like pneumonia, brain swelling and even death, especially for young unvaccinated or immunocompromised children. 

It can take the body about 14 days to develop immunity to measles after vaccination. DSHS said People are not considered fully vaccinated until those 14 days have passed. For more information about where to get the measles vaccine on the South Plains, click here.