Measles cases are on the rise in Texas, raising alarms among health officials as the highly contagious virus spreads across communities.
Why It Matters
Measles is an airborne, “extremely infectious, and potentially severe rash illness,” according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed.
Before the creation of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) shot, between 400 and 500 people in the U.S. died from measles each year and 48,000 people were hospitalized.
The U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000 “thanks to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine,” the CDC said, but now U.S. coverage among children of kindergarten age is below the 95 percent coverage target, which creates a higher risk for outbreaks of the virus.
What To Know
According to data from the Texas Department of Health and Human Services, the state currently has 90 confirmed cases of measles across several counties.
The majority of the cases are concentrated in Gaines County, which currently has 57 confirmed cases. Terry County follows with 20 cases while Dawson, Ector, Lubbock, Lynn and Yoakum Counties, have fewer than 10 cases each. Of the 90 cases, 26 involve children aged 0-4, while 51 are in those aged 5-17, making it the most affected age group. There are 10 cases in those aged 18 and over, and three cases are still pending age determination, according to the Texas Health and Human Services Department. The Ector County Health Department informed the Odessa American that its one case of measles was in a child too young to be vaccinated.
Out of the 90 cases in Texas, 16 patients have been hospitalized. Five patients had been vaccinated, while the rest were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, as reported by the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). Health officials have stated that this outbreak is Texas’ largest in nearly 30 years. Lara Anton, a spokeswoman for the Texas Health Department, explained that the cases are primarily concentrated within a “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite community, especially among families who attend small private religious schools or are homeschooled.
Neighboring New Mexico has also seen a measles outbreak in Lea County, where there are four cases in individuals aged 5-17 and five in individuals 18 and older. While Lea County borders Gaines County in Texas, New Mexico health officials have said there is no evidence linking the two outbreaks. New Mexico health officials have identified potential exposure locations, including a grocery store, an elementary school, a church, Nor-Lea Hospital and a Walgreens in Hobbs, New Mexico.
Gaines County has one of the highest rates in Texas of school-aged children opting out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14 percent of K-12 children in the 2023-24 school year having been opted out. Health officials suggest that this number could be even higher, as it does not account for homeschooled children whose vaccination status is not reported.
Measles primarily affects young children, especially those who are unvaccinated or not fully vaccinated. However, it can also affect adults who have not been vaccinated or who have not previously contracted the disease. The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent measles, ensuring immunity against the disease. Studies have shown that low vaccination rates can lead to widespread community transmission, which is supported by data from the CDC.
Most people recover from measles, but complications like pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and even death are possible. The outbreaks in Texas and New Mexico come amid rising numbers of measles cases in the U.S. According to the CDC, there have already been three outbreaks reported in 2025. For comparison, there were 16 outbreaks in 2024, with a total of 285 cases. Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New York City, and Rhode Island have all experienced measles outbreaks this year.
The CDC noted that 95 percent of those infected were individuals who had either been vaccinated or whose vaccination status was unknown but none had received the two doses of the MMR vaccine recommended by the CDC. Of all the cases in the U.S., 28 were in children under the age of two, and 48 were in individuals aged 5-19.
Federal health officials have linked some outbreaks to parents refusing to vaccinate their children. Childhood vaccination rates have declined across the nation since the pandemic, with increasing numbers of parents claiming religious or personal conscience exemptions to avoid required vaccinations. Last week, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a well-known vaccine critic, was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services despite resistance from the medical community and some lawmakers. Kennedy, who has repeatedly claimed that childhood vaccines cause autism—a theory debunked by scientists—has vowed to protect existing vaccination programs. The CDC states that many studies have investigated a possible link between vaccines and autism, and these studies continue to show no association between the two.
What Happens Next
Health workers in Texas are conducting regular vaccination clinics and screening events to curb the spread of measles. They are also partnering with schools to educate the public about the importance of vaccination and offering shots.
In New Mexico, health officials are coordinating several vaccination clinics in Hobbs next week.
Given the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are expected in the affected areas and nearby communities. Authorities are actively investigating the outbreaks.
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