Texas Measles Outbreak Declares Over 660 Cases with Less Than 10 Currently Infectious

Texas health officials announced that the state's measles outbreak has resulted in a total of 663 confirmed cases since late January, with 17 new cases reported on April 29. Despite the high overall count, fewer than 10 of these cases—approximately 1%—are actively infectious at this time. The outbreak has led to significant health impacts, including 87 hospitalizations and two fatalities among unvaccinated children with no underlying health conditions.

Several counties remain under strict transmission status, including Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum. Notably, the outbreak has also affected the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with the first case in Collin County reported on April 23. This case involved a student attending Willow Springs Middle School in Lucas and is believed to be unrelated to the ongoing West Texas outbreak.

Additionally, an adult in Rockwall County, who had recently traveled to West Texas, tested positive for measles later in April, though it is unclear if this case is connected to the outbreak. Cases linked to the same outbreak have also been reported in Oklahoma and Mexico, contributing to a total of 741 cases across these regions.

Measles, one of the most contagious viruses, spreads mainly among unvaccinated populations. The two-dose MMR vaccine is highly effective, with a 97% efficacy rate. Prior to the vaccine’s introduction, measles infected millions yearly in the U.S., resulting in thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths annually. The disease had been declared eliminated in 2000, however, outbreaks continue to occur in communities with low vaccination coverage.

Health experts warn that this ongoing outbreak poses a risk to the nation’s elimination status. The CDC recommends measles vaccination for nearly all individuals starting at 12 months of age, except for those who are immunocompromised or pregnant. Monitoring and vaccination remain critical to controlling and preventing further spread of measles.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-04-texas-measles-outbreak-cases-infectious.html