Over the past three weeks, 58 cases of measles have been identified in Texas, with most occurring in Gaines County in the western part of the state on the New Mexico border.

The new cases have yet to be added to federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, which as of Feb. 6 had 14 cases of measles reported among Alaska, Georgia, New York City, Rhode Island and Texas.

The Texas Department of State Health Services identified 45 cases in Gaines County, nine in neighboring Terry County, two in Yoakum County and one apiece in Lubbock and Lynn counties as of Tuesday. Of those, 14 patients required hospitalization.

Measles are a contagious virus that can cause high fever, rash, runny nose, watery eyes and coughing. It’s most commonly prevented via preemptive use of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the CDC says on its website.

Of the 58 cases in Texas, only four patients are confirmed to have gotten the vaccine, the TDSHS said in a release Tuesday.

Minors have been the most affected in the Texas outbreak, with 15 patients between newborn and 4 years old, 33 between 5 and 17, six older than 18, and four cases with the patient’s age pending further identification.

Just over 17% of Gaines County kindergarten students in the 2023-24 school year were subject to a conscientious objection by their parents to at least one vaccine, according to TDSHS data.

The cases have been concentrated in a Mennonite community, though Texas officials said their religion was not the cause of their lack of vaccinations.

“The church isn’t the reason that they’re not vaccinated. It’s all personal choice, and you can do whatever you want. It’s just that the community doesn’t go and get regular health care,” TDSHS spokeswoman Lara Anton told The Associated Press.

This year’s measles outbreak is the worst to hit Texas since 1996, when the state had 49 cases, according to AP.

In Lea County, New Mexico, which borders Gaines County, two adults tested positive for measles Thursday, bringing the recent number of cases in that state up to three.

“We are investigating every suspected case, and we encourage sick individuals with symptoms consistent with measles to seek medical care,” Dr. Chad Smelser, the New Mexico Department of Health deputy epidemiologist, said in a release Friday.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.