Measles outbreak in Texas: cases, deaths, what other states it has reached and what you need to know

The United States is facing a growing measles outbreak, and Texas remains the main focus. This highly contagious virus has already infected at least 500 people in the state. It was first concentrated in Gaines County, a rural area with a significant Mennonite population where vaccination rates are well below national targets, but has now spread to other states and also to Mexico, where there are already more than 300 cases. Health officials have warned that if immediate action is not taken, the outbreak will spread further, both within and outside Texas.

Measles is not just a local problem; it is a global health concern. In 2023, more than 10 million people worldwide were infected with the virus. Although measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000, there have been some outbreaks, as there were in 2019, when a large outbreak in New York and other states nearly cost the United States its elimination status, with about 1,300 cases reported. Now, after a decline in cases during the covid pandemic, measles is making a resurgence both globally and domestically.

Measles in Texas

The current outbreak began in Gaines County, bordering New Mexico, Texas. The Texas Department of State Health Services reported that all confirmed cases were in unvaccinated persons. First, 13 patients - mostly school-aged children - were hospitalized, with many requiring intensive care.

Gaines County has one of the highest vaccination exemption rates in Texas. State data show that last year only 82% of elementary students in the area received the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (also known as “MMR” or MMR), well below the federal target of 95%. In private schools and homeschooling communities, the vaccination rate is even lower. As a result, the number of cases has risen sharply and the outbreak has spread to other states.

Texas remains the epicenter, with 541 reported cases, of which more than 65% are concentrated in Gaines County. Arkansas became the latest state to report a case. As of March, Texas alone had already surpassed the total number of measles cases reported in the United States in all of 2024.

How is measles spread, and what are the symptoms?

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses in the world. It spreads through the respiratory tract and can remain airborne for hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.

Symptoms usually appear one to two weeks after exposure and include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a characteristic red rash. Although most people recover, measles can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling and even death.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in five unvaccinated people who contract measles will be hospitalized. For young children and people with weakened immune systems, the disease can be especially dangerous. A total of 712 cases have been confirmed, and two deaths have occurred, including one unvaccinated child.

Declining vaccination rates and public misinformation

The increase in vaccination exemptions in Texas and the rest of the United States is raising concerns among public health experts. Nationwide, vaccination rates have declined since the pandemic, and coverage is now less than 93%. An estimated 280,000 preschool children lack documentation of MMR vaccination.

Texas law mandates vaccination of children in public schools, but allows exemptions for “conscientious reasons,” including religious beliefs. In Gaines County, more than 13% of K-12 students received a vaccine exemption last year, one of the highest rates in the state.

Misinformation about vaccines has compounded the problem. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a critic of childhood vaccines, was recently appointed U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. His controversial stance on immunization has raised fears of increased skepticism about vaccines, leading to more outbreaks of preventable diseases. However, Kennedy recently reversed his stance and called for people to get vaccinated as a preventive measure.

Authorities’ response

As an initial response to the outbreak, health authorities set up emergency vaccination centers, including self-service clinics in Seminole, the county seat of Gaines County. The CDC sent 2,000 doses of MMR vaccine to Texas, but most is being used to provide booster doses rather than reaching the unvaccinated population at all.

Despite speaking out against vaccination in previous years, current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. publicly encouraged Americans to get vaccinated against measles after an outbreak spread across several states.

Are there cases in other states?

The outbreak is not limited to Texas, where more than 500 cases have been reported. Other States such as New Mexico, Alaska, Georgia, New York or Rhode Island have reported cases this year. The outbreak has also reached New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas, raising fears of further spread to urban areas. In total, 712 cases have been confirmed. In all of 2024, only 285 were reported.