Officials with the Texas Department of State Health Services are investigating six cases of the measles among unvaccinated Ellis County residents.
Health officials identified the first measles case in an individual who visited a local movie theatre in Waxahachie. The health department announced the first measles case Jan. 19 and confirmed five additional cases as of Tuesday. While all the cases are related, none have been linked to exposure at the movie theatre.
"The Texas Department of State Health Services is advising healthcare providers in the area to take precautions and consider measles as a possible diagnosis in patients with a fever and rash, in addition to a cough, runny nose or conjunctivitis," said the health department Tuesday. "The highly contagious nature of measles means it's possible more cases will occur in the community. People involved in the outbreak have connections to Waxahachie and Midlothian."
Measles virus is highly transmissible and can result in symptoms such as fever, runny nose, cough and a red rash that covers the body. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing the measles, according to the CDC.
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