In Dallas, the measles epidemic in Texas has reached a concerning new milestone, increasing by 22 cases since earlier this week, bringing the total to 146 individuals affected, according to health officials on Friday. This outbreak, now the state’s most significant in nearly three decades, tragically claimed the life of a young, unvaccinated school-aged child, marking the first U.S. fatality from the disease since 2015, as reported by the CDC.
Texas Department of State Health Services highlighted that the cases extend across nine West Texas counties, with nearly 100 cases arising in Gaines County alone. So far, 20 patients have been hospitalized due to the outbreak. The child who succumbed to the illness was being treated at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, though they did not reside in Lubbock County.
The virus, a highly contagious respiratory disease, is predominantly spreading through the rural, oil-rich areas of West Texas, particularly within a close-knit Mennonite community known for lower vaccination rates, explains the state health department’s spokesperson Lara Anton. This area, Gaines County, also features strong homeschooling and private schooling communities, with one of Texas’s highest opt-out rates for vaccinations among school-aged children. Nearly 14% opted out of at least one required vaccine dose in the past academic year.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine offers a safe and effective shield against the disease. Experts recommend the first shot for children between 12 to 15 months and a subsequent booster between ages 4 to 6 years. Although most children recover from measles without significant issues, the infection can cause severe complications, including pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and even death.
National vaccination rates have seen a decline since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Presently, most states fall short of the 95% vaccination level needed for kindergartners to effectively safeguard communities against measles outbreaks. The U.S. had previously declared measles eliminated in 2000, a designation indicating a year without continuous disease spread. However, outbreaks have reemerged, like the one in Chicago in 2024 that saw over 60 individuals affected.
While eastern New Mexico is grappling with nine confirmed cases of measles, state health authorities have confirmed there is no link to the outbreak in West Texas.
