A measles outbreak in Texas’ South Plains neared 100 cases Friday, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, which warned more cases of the highly contagious virus are likely to pop up in outbreak areas.
The outbreak began in late January. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 90 cases of measles in the state as of Friday, with 16 of the patients having been hospitalized.
The health department said five of the cases are vaccinated, with the remainder of the sick patients being unvaccinated or having an unknown vaccination status.
Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts: We’re launching text message alerts so you'll always know the biggest stories shaping the day’s headlines. Text “Alerts” to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here.
Fifty-seven of the measles cases are located in Gaines County, a rural area about an hour and a half west of Lubbock, Texas. The remaining cases are in Terry County (20), Dawson County (6), Yoakum County (4), Ector County (1), Lubbock County (1) and Lynn County (1).
Fifty-one of the cases have been found within people aged five to 17, while 26 cases were found within children between the ages of zero and four.
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.
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.
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.
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 revaccianted, NPR reported, noting early measles vaccines are not as effective.
“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.
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.
Measles cases are rising in the U.S. Do adults need a vaccine booster? (NPR)