The measles outbreak in Texas that began in late January has grown to 146 cases, Texas health officials reported today in an update.
The outbreak has grown by 22 cases since the last update on February 25. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) said 20 of the patients have been hospitalized. One fatality, in an unvaccinated school-age child, was announced earlier this week.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,” the department said. “DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.”
Of the 146 confirmed cases, 116 are in children aged 17 and under, and 79 are unvaccinated. Sixty-two case-patients have unknown vaccination status.
The outbreak is centered in Gaines County in western Texas, where 98 of the cases have been reported. According to the Texas Tribune, the county has one of the highest rates of school-aged children in Texas who have opted out of at least one vaccine.
Declining vaccination rates lead to vulnerability
Measles was eliminated from the United States 25 years ago, but declining vaccination rates in recent years have left some communities vulnerable to outbreaks of the highly infectious virus, which can cause life-threatening illness in those who are not protected.
In a paper published in October 2024, researchers with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that two-dose national MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine coverage among US kindergartners fell to 92.7% in 2023-24. Measles elimination requires vaccination coverage remaining above 95%.
“The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine,” DSHS said. “Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.”
Meanwhile, officials at a charter school in San Antonio told Texas Public Radio that they have confirmed a rubella case at their school. And a measles outbreak in neighboring New Mexico has risen to 9 cases, according to an update today from the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH). All 9 cases are in Lea County, which borders Gaines County.
CDC issues statement
In its first statement on the outbreak, released yesterday, the CDC said it continues to be in close communication with Texas health authorities and that the Department of Health and Human Services is providing technical assistance, laboratory support, vaccines, and therapeutic medication to DSHS and NMDOH.
“Vaccination remains the best defense against measles infection,” the CDC said.
The statement also noted that measles outbreaks are occurring globally, particularly in Asia, and that there is “increased likelihood” of cases among unvaccinated travelers returning to the United States.
Yesterday, officials with Seattle & King County in Washington state said they had been notified of a confirmed measles case in a King County infant who may have been exposed during international travel. And officials in New Jersey have confirmed two additional measles cases linked to an unvaccinated person with measles who had recently traveled internationally, according to NJ.com.
None of the cases in the Texas outbreak, however, appear to be linked to international travel.
A total of 285 measles cases were reported from 33 US jurisdictions in 2024, according to the CDC, with 16 outbreaks. The CDC defines an outbreak as three or more cases.
