21 cases of measles linked to megachurch

Associated Press

DALLA S

A Texas megachurch linked to at least 21 measles cases has been trying to contain the outbreak by hosting vaccination clinics, officials said Monday.

The outbreak started when a person who contracted measles overseas visited Eagle Mountain International Church in Newark, about 20 miles north of Fort Worth, Texas. Officials with area health departments said those affected by the outbreak range in age from 4 months to 44 years old.

All of the school-aged children with measles were homeschooled, and a majority of those who were infected had not been vaccinated.

In a recent sermon posted online, senior pastor Terri Pearsons encouraged those who haven’t been vaccinated to do so, adding that the Old Testament is “full of precautionary measures.”