LA PORTE, Texas — A Pre-K student at La Porte Elementary School has a suspected case of measles, according to school officials.
The district sent a letter to parents Tuesday about the possible measles case and said they are working closely with Harris County Public Health. School officials said they are disinfecting all classrooms and common areas on campus as a precautionary measure.
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The Harris County Health Department confirmed it is investigating the suspected case but said it is waiting on test results to come back to confirm if it is measles.
Meanwhile, a woman claiming to be the child’s mom said her son became ill with a fever last week, and when she took him to the doctor, he was diagnosed with measles.
The woman, who isn't being identified at this time, also said her son was up to date on his vaccines.
If confirmed, this would be the fourth measles case in Harris County since last week.
Five measles cases have been confirmed in the Houston area, including three in Harris County, one in Montgomery County and one in Galveston County. Four of the patients are children under the age of 2. The other is a Harris County woman who is approximately 30 years old. The 1-year-old girl in Montgomery County is connected to one of the Harris County patients, though at this time, we don't know which patient or how they are connected.
Measles is highly contagious, and if one person has it, 9 out of 10 people around that person will also become infected if they’re not yet vaccinated. About 1 out of 4 people who get measles will be hospitalized.
Measles can be dangerous, especially for babies and young children. Measles is an airborne virus that lives in the nose and throat mucus of an infected person. It can spread to others through coughing and sneezing. Symptoms of measles are a high fever, runny nose, cough, red-watery eyes and sore throat that is followed by a rash breakout 3-5 days after symptoms begin.
The best way to protect yourself and your family against measles and other vaccine-preventable diseases is by immunization. HCPH encourages individuals to contact their health care provider if they show signs and symptoms of measles.
For a list of recommended vaccines, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or speak to your health care provider.