Texas measles outbreak tops 500 cases as infections spread among unvaccinated youth
Shreedhar Rathi | Apr 09, 2025, 00:08 IST
( Image credit : AP )
A severe measles outbreak in western Texas has resulted in over 500 confirmed cases, primarily affecting unvaccinated children and teens. Gaines County is the epicenter, with hospitalizations and fatalities reported. Health officials are urging vaccinations as the highly contagious virus spreads, impacting multiple states and prompting earlier immunizations in some Texas counties.
The measles outbreak in western Texas continues to grow at an alarming rate, with 24 new cases reported in the past five days and total infections now surpassing 500, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).
As of Tuesday, the outbreak has reached 505 confirmed cases, with the vast majority occurring among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Health officials report that just three infected individuals had received one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, and seven had received the recommended two doses.
Children and teens between the ages of 5 and 17 account for the majority of cases, followed by children under the age of 5. At least 57 people have been hospitalized, and two school-aged children — both unvaccinated — have died as a result of the outbreak.
Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the hardest-hit area, with 328 confirmed cases. Public health workers have set up testing stations in places like Seminole, where signs guide residents to mobile screening sites outside hospitals and schools.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities,” DSHS said in a statement. “We are working closely with local health departments to investigate and contain the spread.”
Measles is one of the most infectious viruses known, capable of lingering in the air for hours after an infected person leaves a room. A single case can trigger large outbreaks, particularly in communities with low vaccination coverage.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 607 measles cases in at least 21 states as of Friday, including Texas, California, Florida, and New York. However, that number is expected to rise due to reporting delays.
CDC data shows that approximately 97% of national cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Only 3% of cases involve individuals who received one or both recommended MMR doses. The vaccine is highly effective, with one dose providing 93% protection and two doses providing 97%.
The CDC recommends the first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second between 4 and 6 years. Amid the current outbreak, some Texas counties have authorized earlier vaccinations for infants as young as 6 months.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, largely thanks to a robust national vaccination program. But recent declines in immunization rates have left some communities vulnerable to outbreaks.
Public health officials are urging parents to ensure children are fully vaccinated, especially as the virus continues to spread across state lines, with new cases recently confirmed in Indiana and Colorado.
As of Tuesday, the outbreak has reached 505 confirmed cases, with the vast majority occurring among unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status. Health officials report that just three infected individuals had received one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, and seven had received the recommended two doses.
Children and teens between the ages of 5 and 17 account for the majority of cases, followed by children under the age of 5. At least 57 people have been hospitalized, and two school-aged children — both unvaccinated — have died as a result of the outbreak.
Gaines County, which borders New Mexico, remains the hardest-hit area, with 328 confirmed cases. Public health workers have set up testing stations in places like Seminole, where signs guide residents to mobile screening sites outside hospitals and schools.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities,” DSHS said in a statement. “We are working closely with local health departments to investigate and contain the spread.”
Measles is one of the most infectious viruses known, capable of lingering in the air for hours after an infected person leaves a room. A single case can trigger large outbreaks, particularly in communities with low vaccination coverage.
Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 607 measles cases in at least 21 states as of Friday, including Texas, California, Florida, and New York. However, that number is expected to rise due to reporting delays.
CDC data shows that approximately 97% of national cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Only 3% of cases involve individuals who received one or both recommended MMR doses. The vaccine is highly effective, with one dose providing 93% protection and two doses providing 97%.
The CDC recommends the first MMR dose between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second between 4 and 6 years. Amid the current outbreak, some Texas counties have authorized earlier vaccinations for infants as young as 6 months.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, largely thanks to a robust national vaccination program. But recent declines in immunization rates have left some communities vulnerable to outbreaks.
Public health officials are urging parents to ensure children are fully vaccinated, especially as the virus continues to spread across state lines, with new cases recently confirmed in Indiana and Colorado.