Topline
A total of 159 people have contracted measles in Texas as of Tuesday, according to the state’s health department, marking another increase in an outbreak of the highly contagious virus that was first reported in the state in late January.
Key Facts
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 159 cases of measles, with 22 of the patients having been hospitalized.
The health department said just five of the cases are in vaccinated people, with the remainder of the sick patients being unvaccinated (80) or having an unknown vaccination status (74).
Melissa Whitfield, spokesperson for the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, told Forbes on Feb. 26 an unvaccinated, school-age child with measles died of measles, marking the sole death of the outbreak so far.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last month the agency is “watching” the outbreak, which he said was “not unusual.”
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Where In Texas Is The Measles Outbreak?
Some 107 of the measles cases are located in Gaines County, a rural area about an hour-and-a-half west of Lubbock. The remaining cases are in Terry County (22), Dawson County (9), Yoakum County (7), Dallam County (4), Martin County (3), Lubbock County (3), Ector County (2) and Lynn County (2).
What Age Groups Is The Measles Outbreak Impacting In Texas?
Seventy-four of the cases have been among people aged five to 17, while 53 cases were among children between the ages of zero and four and 27 were reported among adults over age 18. The ages of five patients have not been stated.
Are There Outbreaks In Other States?
Yes, there is a relatively small outbreak in New Mexico, where nine cases have been reported in Lea County, a region on the border between New Mexico and Texas. Kentucky health officials have confirmed at least once case in a state resident who they said recently traveled internationally to an area “with ongoing measles transmission.”
What Are Measles Symptoms?
Symptoms of measles include a fever, rash, cough, fatigue, runny nose and red eyes. The symptoms do not appear until 10 to 14 days after someone is exposed to the virus.
How Contagious Is Measles?
Measles is highly contagious and can spread from one person to nine out of 10 people close to them, according to the CDC, which notes a person infected with measles can spread it to others four days before through four days after the rash appears. Measles can spread through coughing, sneezing and infected surfaces.
Is There A Measles Vaccine?
Yes, and it is highly effective and safe, according to the CDC. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine, which has been available for over half a century, is about 97% effective at preventing measles with the standard two doses and 93% effective with one dose. The vaccine is typically given to people when they are children, with one dose administered between 12 to 15 months and another administered between four to six years old. The vaccine generally provides long-term or lifelong protection. There is no problem with getting the vaccine if you are an adult unsure of their vaccination status, Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told NPR. Adults born after 1957 and vaccinated before 1968 should consider getting revaccinated, NPR reported, noting early measles vaccines are not as effective.
Crucial Quote
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities,” according to The Texas Department of State Health Services.
Key Background
The Texas measles outbreak began in late January with just two cases and has become the state’s largest outbreak of the virus in 30 years. The Texas Department of State Health Services said in a report of student immunization status for the 2023-2024 school year that 5.64% of Texas kindergarten students were not vaccinated for measles, while 2.34% of seventh graders had not received the vaccine. Measles was fully eliminated from the U.S. in 2000, according to the CDC, meaning the virus was not spreading within the country and new cases only came from people who contracted measles abroad and returned to the U.S. In 2024, a total of 285 measles cases were reported across 33 states.
Further Reading
Measles cases are rising in the U.S. Do adults need a vaccine booster? (NPR)
