Tejal Somvanshi
A dangerous outbreak of measles in rural West Texas has grown to 48 cases, the worst in 30 years. Health officials suspect between 200 to 300 people in West Texas are infected with the virus.
“It is troubling, because this was completely preventable,” says Dr. Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins. He points out that a simple vaccine could have prevented this crisis. So far, 13 people, mostly children, have gotten sick enough to need hospital care. Every single person who got measles either hadn’t gotten their shots or wasn’t sure if they had.
The problem started in Gaines County but has spread to nearby areas. Three people in next-door New Mexico have also gotten sick. What makes this outbreak especially worrying is how easily measles spreads. The virus can float in the air for two hours after a sick person leaves a room.
Why did this happen? In Gaines County, nearly 18% of kindergarten students don’t get their required shots. That’s one of the highest rates in Texas. The area includes a large Mennonite community, who chose Gaines County partly because it has few rules for private schools, including vaccine requirements. Tonya Guffey, who runs nursing at the local hospital, sees this firsthand. “Many families here choose not to vaccinate,” she says. “It’s not that they don’t understand – it’s what they believe.”
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Parents should watch for early warning signs: high fever, bad cough, runny nose, and red eyes. Later, a red, spotty rash appears. A sick person can spread measles four days before they even know they have it.
Local health workers are fighting back. They’ve given at least 80 free vaccines in the past week and are expanding their clinic to be open seven days a week. The CDC sent 2,000 extra doses of the measles vaccine to help. The MMR vaccine is highly effective – one dose protects 93 out of 100 people, while the recommended two doses protect 97 out of 100 people from getting sick.
The outbreak puts certain groups at higher risk:
- Babies too young for the vaccine
- People with weak immune systems
- Anyone who hasn’t had both shots
This Texas outbreak is part of a bigger problem. Last year, more U.S. kindergartners than ever before skipped their required shots. That means over 125,000 young kids started school without protection from serious diseases.
Health workers say the solution is simple: get vaccinated. “If you’ve had your shots and have a normal immune system, you don’t need to worry about measles,” Dr. Adalja explains. Local health departments are ready to help families get these life-saving shots.
