Texas health officials have issued a measles alert after more than a dozen cases were reported this year compared to none in 2012.
The Texas Department of State Health Services is urging immunization against the highly contagious illness.
State health officials, based on figures released Friday, said Texas had 11 confirmed cases so far this year — with six in the last week in Tarrant County. Tarrant County Public Health officials in Fort Worth later updated that number to report a total of nine cases.
Dallas and Denton counties each reported two measles cases to the state, while Harris County has one.
Agency officials say Texas had six reported cases of measles in 2011.
Measles can be spread by contact with an infected person through coughing and sneezing.
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Online:
http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.