FISH GROUP: Fourth Case Diagnosed in Harris County

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) –

A fourth patient was diagnosed with measles in Harris County, marking another case of contagious virus in recent weeks.

Harris County Public Health confirmed that the last case involved a man aged 15 to 24 years. The patient lives in the southeastern part of the county.

Earlier this month, the health agency announced that two boys under 2 years old and a 35-year-old woman had been diagnosed with measles. These three patients live in northwestern Harris County.

Counties Montgomery and Galveston also confirmed cases this month.

PREVIOUS STORY: 5 cases of measles in Harris, Montgomery and Galveston counties

Measles is a highly contagious virus transmitted by direct contact or by air.

Symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes between seven and 14 days after infection, says the US National Library of Medicine.

However, measles is preventable.

Health officials encourage everyone to protect themselves from the virus by getting vaccinated.

"You have a vaccine that can prevent the disease.Once you have it, the only thing to do is to try to contain the fever, to hydrate it," said Dr. Suzanna Cruz at Baylor St. Luke Medical Center.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, since the approval of the vaccine in the 1960s, the number of measles cases has increased from three to four million per year, a reduction of 99%. .

The latter cases in Texas occur as other parts of the country struggle against an epidemic.