A second case of measles has been reported in Denton County, county health officials announced Monday.
The patient is a child who recently traveled internationally, officials wrote in a news release. Their vaccination status was not immediately known.
The child was not admitted to a hospital, the release said, and is recovering at home.
“As we report a second case of measles in Denton County this year, we want to remind the public that vaccination is the best protection against this highly contagious disease,” said Matt Richardson, Denton County’s director of public health. “With cases on the rise globally, it’s especially important to ensure your immunizations are up to date.”
The news comes less than a week after an adult in Denton County tested positive for the virus, causing officials to warn the public of possible exposure at several locations in North Texas, including Globe Life Field during a Texas Rangers game.
Related:First measles case confirmed in Rockwall County, officials say
Neither case has been linked to the outbreak that sparked earlier this year in West Texas. In addition to nearly 700 confirmed cases, the upsurge has included dozens of hospitalizations and the deaths of two children.
Related:As the West Texas outbreak continues, do you need a measles booster?
Measles, one of the most contagious viruses in the world, spreads primarily among unvaccinated people.
The two-dose MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing the illness. Health experts recommend the first dose be administered to babies between 12 and 15 months old, with the second dose administered when the child is 4 to 6 years old.
