SANTA FE, N.M. — Health officials reported on Tuesday that an outbreak of measles in western Texas has escalated, with a new case detected nearby in New Mexico.
The Texas Department of State Health Services noted 24 confirmed measles cases linked to symptoms that emerged within the past two weeks. Gaines County, a relatively small area in West Texas, is noted for having one of the state’s highest rates of vaccine exemptions.
In Lea County, New Mexico, residents were informed on Tuesday about an unvaccinated teenager who contracted the measles. This individual may have exposed others at a Lovington emergency room and a local sixth-grade gym.
“The individual in New Mexico had no recent travel and had no known exposure to the Texas outbreak,” stated the New Mexico Department of Health in a news announcement.
Among the confirmed cases in Texas, nine individuals have required hospitalization. Notably, all confirmed cases in Gaines County involve individuals who were not vaccinated.
Measles is an extremely contagious virus capable of surviving in the air for up to two hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if a susceptible individual is exposed, there is a 90% chance of contracting the virus. Before the measles vaccine was introduced in 1963, the United States typically experienced between 3 million and 4 million cases annually, a number that has since reduced to fewer than 200 in an average year.
Local health officials in Gaines County have initiated a drive-through vaccination clinic and are providing screening services to residents. The New Mexico Department of Health plans to launch no-appointment vaccination clinics in Hobbs starting next week.
The rise in measles cases is a growing concern, especially after a significant outbreak in Chicago in 2024 that affected over 60 people.
In Texas, laws allow for exemptions from school vaccinations based on personal beliefs, including religious convictions. Data from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows that the percentage of children with exemptions has increased from 0.76% in 2014 to 2.32% as of last year.
Ten additional measles cases confirmed in a West Texas county and New Mexico.
