Health officials: Pearland student being treated for measles
PEARLAND, Texas (KTRK) -- Authorities in Brazoria County are awaiting blood work to confirm whether or not a Pearland student has measles.
Health officials told Eyewitness News a student at Sablatura Middle School in Pearland was out of class for four days but is now back at school after experiencing symptoms of the infectious disease.
A male and female teacher, and a sibling of the student who were possibly infected have been cleared by health officials.
While measles had been eliminated in the U.S. since 2000, large measles outbreaks have been reported in Western Europe, Pakistan, Vietnam and the Philippines in recent years, officials said.
In 2014, 288 cases were reported in the United States.
Measles: What does an infection look like?
Measles is an airborne disease that is easily spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Measles usually starts with a fever, and soon causes a cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Then a rash of tiny, red spots breaks out.
The CDC said measles starts at the head and spreads to the rest of the body. Measles can be serious for young children, leading to pneumonia, encephalitis (swelling of the brain), and death.
ORIGINAL REPORT: Brazoria Co. officials confirm measles case
