Tejal Somvanshi
The ongoing measles outbreak that began in northwest Texas in January 2025 has grown to 321 confirmed cases across three states, according to official reports. Health officials warn this outbreak could persist throughout the year due to declining vaccination rates in affected areas.
Outbreak By The Numbers
The Texas Department of State Health Services reports 279 cases, with the majority (191) concentrated in Gaines County. New Mexico has confirmed 38 cases, mostly in Lea County, which borders Gaines County. Oklahoma has reported four probable cases linked to the Texas outbreak.
So far, 36 patients have been hospitalized in Texas, and there have been two fatalities: an unvaccinated child in Texas with no underlying health conditions, and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico whose death is still under investigation. This marks the first measles death in the United States since 2015.
The outbreak is primarily affecting young people, with 95 cases in children under 5 years old and 130 cases in those aged 5-17. While most cases are in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status, six cases have been reported in people who received at least one dose of the MMR vaccine.
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Vaccination Gaps Fuel Spread
Health experts attribute the rapid spread to declining vaccination rates across the region. Katherine Wells, Director of Lubbock Public Health, stated during a public briefing: “I’m really thinking this is going to be a year long, in order to get through this entire outbreak.”
Dr. Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth Houston School of Public Health, explained: “The fact that we’re seeing this rapid increase, even if we didn’t know the immunization rates, would tell us that a lot of people are susceptible.”
To prevent measles outbreaks, approximately 95% of a population needs to be vaccinated. However, vaccination rates have dropped in Texas and surrounding states over the past decade. In Gaines County, only 82% of kindergarteners are vaccinated.
Public Health Response
The CDC has deployed advisors to assist with containment efforts in the affected regions. Local health departments are organizing MMR vaccine clinics and conducting community education campaigns.
“As long as we continue to have a pool of unvaccinated people, it will continue to spread,” said Dr. Simbo Ige, Commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health, during a Big Cities Health Coalition briefing.
One significant improvement in the response effort is increased testing capacity. Labs have been established in Lubbock, near the outbreak’s epicenter, reducing test result wait times from 72 hours to same-day.
Concerns About Further Spread
Health officials have expressed concern about potential spread during the spring break travel season. Dr. Phil Huang, Director of Dallas County Health and Human Services, noted: “As we’re getting into spring and spring breaks, we’re concerned about travel of some of the people from these communities, and perhaps to other communities that might have those pockets of large numbers of unvaccinated persons.”
The current outbreak has already surpassed the total number of measles cases reported nationwide in 2024 (285) and is on pace to potentially reach about 1,200 cases by year’s end, according to Frederic Bertley, immunologist and CEO of the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio. The last major outbreak in 2019 resulted in 1,274 cases across the country.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of measles? +
Measles typically begins with high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. Two to three days after symptoms begin, tiny white spots may appear inside the mouth. Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out, usually as flat red spots that appear on the face and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet.
How effective is the MMR vaccine against measles? +
The MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine is highly effective. Two doses of the vaccine are approximately 97% effective at preventing measles infection. Even in this current outbreak, only 2 out of 279 fully vaccinated people have contracted measles.
How contagious is measles compared to other diseases? +
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases. It can spread through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left a room. A person can be contagious up to four days before developing the measles rash.
Why are we seeing measles outbreaks if it was eliminated in the U.S.? +
Measles was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000, meaning there was no continuous transmission for 12 months. However, outbreaks can still occur when unvaccinated individuals travel internationally and bring the virus back, or when visitors from other countries introduce it. These cases can then spread in communities with low vaccination rates.
Can vaccinated people still get measles? +
Yes, but it’s rare. In the current outbreak, only 2 cases out of 279 in Texas have been reported in people who received both doses of the MMR vaccine. This demonstrates that while breakthrough infections can occur, they are uncommon, and the vaccine remains highly effective.
How long is a person with measles contagious? +
People with measles are contagious from four days before to four days after the rash appears. This means someone can spread measles before knowing they have the disease, making it particularly difficult to control.
