As measles outbreak slows in West Texas, doctors remain on alert

The measles outbreak that’s sickened hundreds and killed two young girls since January appears to be slowing in West Texas as the virus runs out of people to infect.

The measles outbreak that’s sickened hundreds and killed two young girls since January appears to be slowing in West Texas as the virus runs out of people to infect.

On Tuesday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported a total of 702 measles cases, an increase of 19 since the agency’s last update on Friday.

Ninety-one people have been hospitalized since the beginning of the outbreak. About two-thirds were kids.

But for the second week in a row, no children are hospitalized with the virus in West Texas, said Katherine Wells, the public health director for the city of Lubbock, located at the epicenter of the outbreak.

“I’m hopeful that things are slowing down,” Wells said.