In January alone, 102 people from 14 states including Texas were reported to have measles, according to the CDC.
2014 was a record year for measles cases, with 644 cases reported from 27 states.
Because of an outbreak linked to an adventure park in Anaheim, California in December 2014, the previously eradicated disease has become a public health issue once again.
According to the Jan. 30 memo from David Lakey, commissioner from the Texas Department of State Health Services, there were no cases associated with this outbreak in Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services suggests that people be up to date on their measles, mumps, rubella vaccine to avoid contracting measles.
The growing anti-vaccination movement, where people are choosing not to vaccinate themselves or their children, has students talking.
“I haven’t had it (MMR vaccine),” Alexis Gay, political science junior, said. “People should be able to choose any shot. I don’t think any shot should be mandatory.”
The other side of the argument claims that not being vaccinated puts other people at risk, which trumps the personal right to choose to not be vaccinated.
“It must be mandatory because if you can eradicate a whole disease, then to a point, you don’t have to make the vaccinations anymore,” Jacob Warren, economics freshman, said.
