COLLIN COUNTY (WBAP/KLIF News) – The Texas Health Department has confirmed a case of the measles in Collin County.
It’s the second case in North Texas this year. The first was confirmed in Denton County last month.
Last August, a Plano West Senior High School student came down with the virus.
There have been 11 reports of measles across Texas this year. That figure has already passed the nine confirmed cases in 2018.
It’s a troublesome trend as measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that is spread by contact with an infected person who is coughing and sneezing.
According to DSHS, measles is so contagious that if one person is infected then 90 percent of the people around that person who are not immune will catch it.
The department recommends children get vaccinated at 12-15 months then again at 4 – 6 years.
The main symptom is a rash that begins as flat, red spots on the face that spread down the neck to the rest of the body.
Other symptoms include fever over 101 degrees, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.
DSHS advises anyone who thinks they may have measles to contact a doctor immediately.
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