Measles is rarely seen in the United States, but Americans are growing more concerned about the preventable virus as cases continue to rise in rural West Texas. An unvaccinated child died last week in the West Texas outbreak, which involves more than 150 cases. Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says measles is a respiratory disease caused by one of the world’s most contagious viruses. Measles has been reported in eight states and Mueller says she expects the virus to continue to spread. “Very likely,” Mueller told WFDL news. “We have spring break coming up and people are traveling to different states. You don’t know who you have been in contact with. You don’t know who has been at the same place you have been at.” It most commonly affects kids, but Mueller says it usually doesn’t kill people. The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.
