The State of Texas Faces the Largest Measles Outbreak in Nearly Three Decades, with 58 Confirmed Cases as of February 18, 2025

This outbreak has raised alarms among health authorities and infectious disease experts across the United States.

Outbreak Details

The outbreak is primarily concentrated in Gaines County, which has reported 45 cases, mostly affecting unvaccinated children. Additionally, cases have been recorded in:

• Terry County (9 cases)
• Yoakum County (2 cases)
• Lubbock County (1 case)
• Lynn County (1 case)

So far, 13 people have been hospitalized due to measles-related complications. Authorities estimate that there could be between 200 and 300 additional undiagnosed cases, further worsening the situation.

Causes and Spread

The spread of the virus has been facilitated by low vaccination rates in certain communities, particularly among Mennonite groups, who often choose not to vaccinate their children for religious or cultural reasons.

The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to a general decline in vaccination rates, increasing the vulnerability of these populations to measles.

What Is Measles?

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that primarily affects children, though it can occur in people of all ages. The virus spreads through respiratory droplets expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can remain active in the air or on surfaces for several hours. (mayoclinic.org)

Symptoms

Measles symptoms typically appear 8 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and include:

• High fever
• Dry cough
• Runny nose
• Conjunctivitis (red, inflamed eyes)
• Small white spots inside the cheeks (Koplik spots)
• Skin rash that starts on the face and spreads to the rest of the body

While most people recover within 2 to 3 weeks, measles can cause serious complications, especially in malnourished children or individuals with weakened immune systems.

Treatment and Prevention

There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles; care focuses on relieving symptoms and treating complications that may arise.

Prevention is essential and is mainly achieved through vaccination with the MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccine, which protects against measles and other viral infections.

Health authorities urge the public to verify and update their vaccination schedules to prevent the spread of this outbreak and protect the most vulnerable communities.

This outbreak underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination rates to prevent the re-emergence of diseases that are considered controlled or eradicated in many parts of the world.