Tarrant County Confirms Two Cases of Measles Including a Child and an Adult

Health officials in Tarrant County have identified two confirmed cases of measles, marking the first reported instances in the county for the year 2025. Both cases involve household members who are unvaccinated—one is a child, and the other an adult. Authorities have not yet established the source of infection or whether these cases are linked to the ongoing measles outbreak that originated in Gaines County.

The patients sought care at Methodist Mansfield Medical Center, visiting the emergency room during their contagious period, specifically from 8 p.m. on April 29 to 3 a.m. on April 30. Individuals who visited the emergency room during this timeframe are advised to monitor for symptoms until May 20 and to seek medical advice if necessary.

This development adds to the increasing number of measles cases reported within the Dallas-Fort Worth region this year, including recent cases in Denton, Collin, and Rockwall counties. Importantly, the Texas Department of State Health Services has categorized the Collin and Rockwall cases as separate from the West Texas outbreak, with the Denton case currently under review.

Since the start of 2025, Texas has reported a total of 683 measles cases, complemented by additional cases in neighboring states like New Mexico and Oklahoma. Despite the high vaccination coverage that led to the declaration of measles elimination in the United States in 2000, outbreaks still occur in communities with low immunization rates.

Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads rapidly among unvaccinated populations. The two-dose MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is highly effective, offering 97% protection. Vaccination is generally recommended for individuals starting at 12 months, except for pregnant women and immunocompromised persons who should avoid it.

Public health officials continue to monitor potential exposure sites and urge the community to stay vigilant. Maintaining high vaccination rates remains vital to prevent further spread of this preventable disease. Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-tarrant-county-measles-cases-child.html