The state of Texas reported more than 70 additional measles cases on Friday, for a total of 400 cases identified in the ongoing outbreak.
The Texas Department of State Health Services’ reported case count jumped from 327 cases on Tuesday, an increase of more than 20%.
Friday’s case count also included single cases in two additional counties, Andrews and Midland, that had not previously reported any cases.
In addition, the state reported an additional five cases in Lamar County. That county, which now has 10 total measles cases, is in northeast Texas. Lamar County is the only county outside of West Texas and the Panhandle with measles cases connected to the outbreak.
The ongoing outbreak began in Gaines County, near the New Mexico border. The first two cases were reported in late January.
Texas’ case count does not include additional cases connected to the outbreak that have been reported in New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The state of New Mexico reported a total of 44 cases as of Friday. The state of Oklahoma reported nine measles cases as of Friday.
Across the three states, the outbreak has now grown to a total of 453 cases.
The state of Oklahoma has not reported any hospitalizations or deaths connected to the outbreak. Texas and New Mexico have reported a combined 43 hospitalizations — 41 in Texas and two in New Mexico. Both Texas and New Mexico have also reported a death.
An unvaccinated child in Texas died at the end of February. The state of New Mexico then reported in early March that an adult tested positive for measles after death.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that spreads mostly among unvaccinated people. The virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for hours after an infected person has left.
The two-dose measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is 97% effective at preventing infection. High uptake of the vaccine across the country led to measles being declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000.
There have still been measles outbreaks since then, however, within communities with low vaccination rates.
Due to the ongoing outbreak in Texas, the state has already reported more measles cases in 2025 than in any full year since 1992.
Medical providers and public health experts have repeatedly urged residents to get vaccinated if they haven’t already. The measles vaccine is recommended for children beginning at about 12 months of age. Older children and adults can also receive the vaccine, although it is not recommended for people who are pregnant or immunocompromised.
