The recent measles outbreak in rural West Texas has escalated to 90 confirmed cases spread over seven counties, as reported by the state health department on Friday. There are currently 16 individuals hospitalized due to the virus. In the adjacent eastern region of New Mexico, the count of measles cases has reached nine. However, state public health officials indicated that there is no existing connection between this New Mexico outbreak and the situation in Texas.
Measles is known to be extremely contagious. It’s critical to understand how to safeguard against it, especially in light of the current events in Texas and New Mexico.
The majority of measles cases in West Texas have been reported in Gaines County, accounting for 57 infections. Close behind is Terry County, with 20 confirmed cases. Dawson County, located east of Gaines, has reported six cases, while Yoakum County has four cases. Lubbock, Lynn, and Ector counties each have one confirmed case. Texas health department data reveals that most infections are among individuals younger than 18, with 26 cases in children under 4 years old and 51 in children aged 5-17. There are also ten adult cases and three unspecified cases pending age classification. The Ector County Health Department has noted its case involves a child who is too young to have received the vaccine.
This outbreak has been deemed the largest in Texas in nearly three decades. According to health department spokesperson Lara Anton, the cases are primarily concentrated in a close-knit, under-vaccinated Mennonite community, especially among families associated with small private religious schools or those who homeschool their children.
In New Mexico, all reported cases are contained within Lea County, which shares a border with Texas’s Gaines County. The New Mexico health department has informed the public that exposure to the virus may have occurred at various sites including a grocery store, an elementary school, a church, Nor-Lea Hospital, and a Walgreens pharmacy in Hobbs.
Measles is a viral infection that can linger in the air for as long as two hours. It is observed that up to 90% of people who are not immunized will contract the virus upon exposure, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although most children typically recover from measles, the infection can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and even death.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is considered safe and effective, plays a crucial role in preventing measles infections and severe cases. The initial vaccination is advised for children aged 12 to 15 months, with a subsequent dose between 4 to 6 years of age. Completing the vaccine series is mandatory for children before they can enroll in public kindergarten across the United States. Prior to the vaccine’s introduction in 1963, the country saw annual cases reaching between 3 to 4 million, whereas recent years have recorded fewer than 200 cases annually. Importantly, extensive research has found no correlation between the MMR vaccine and autism, countering claims made by a now-debunked study.
Vaccination rates are pivotal in preventing outbreaks. Areas with vaccination coverage above 95% achieve herd immunity, where diseases like measles struggle to transmit within the community. However, after the pandemic, childhood vaccination rates have decreased across the nation, as more parents cite religious or personal beliefs to exempt their children from vaccines.
The U.S. witnessed a surge in measles cases in 2024, highlighted by an outbreak in Chicago that infected over 60 individuals. A significant rise in measles cases was also recorded in 2019, the highest in nearly 30 years. Gaines County is reported to have one of the highest percentages of school-aged children in Texas opting out of at least one required vaccine, nearing 14% during the present academic year. This figure may be even greater as it does not account for homeschooled children whose vaccination data isn’t included in reports.
To combat the outbreak, health officials in Texas are organizing vaccination clinics and screening programs, while also collaborating with schools to promote vaccination awareness and provide immunizations. Health authorities in New Mexico are similarly setting up multiple vaccination clinics in Hobbs for the upcoming week.
