Measles is one of the world’s most contagious diseases, with one person being able to infect nine out of 10 of their unvaccinated close contacts.
A possible second measles death has been reported in New Mexico, and now more questions are being raised in Oklahoma as to who is most susceptible.
OSDH sent out a health alert advising clinicians in Oklahoma to consider measles among patients with compatible symptoms amid a measles outbreak in Texas.
A rise in vaccine hesitancy may be causing a recent spike in measles showing up in a way it has not in decades.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health says it has verified an employee at Wayside Elementary in Bartlesville does not have measles.
In addition to Texas and New Mexico, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed measles cases in Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York City, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Washington, though the majority are in Texas and New Mexico.