West Texas and New Mexico are grappling with severe measles outbreaks, with over 250 reported cases and two fatalities linked to the disease in individuals who were unvaccinated.
Measles, a highly infectious airborne virus, is easily transmitted when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs. While preventable through vaccination and declared eliminated in the U.S. since 2000, recent outbreaks underscore the ongoing risks.
Presently, Texas health authorities have identified 25 new cases since last week, raising the state’s total count to 223.
Of these, 29 individuals require hospitalization. In neighboring New Mexico, health officials announced 30 cases in Lea County, a region closely linked to the West Texas community, which is the outbreak’s epicenter.
Tragically, the outbreak claimed the life of a school-aged child in Texas last month, and New Mexico recently recorded an adult death due to the disease.
Beyond Texas and New Mexico, measles cases have surfaced in states such as Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Rhode Island. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) categorize a measles outbreak as three or more related cases, noting that three such clusters have been identified in 2025.
Typically, outbreaks in the U.S. trace back to someone contracting the disease abroad, with further spread occurring mainly in areas with low vaccination rates.
For effective protection against measles, the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is highly recommended.
The initial dose is advised for children aged 12 to 15 months, with a follow-up dose between 4 and 6 years old. Those at high risk, especially those vaccinated years ago, may consider a booster if residing in outbreak-affected areas.
This includes individuals living with someone infected or those vulnerable due to underlying health conditions.
However, adults who have “presumptive evidence of immunity” likely do not need additional measles vaccinations. This group includes people with documented prior vaccinations, those who have laboratory-confirmed previous infections, or individuals born before 1957—an era of natural infection prevalence.
Lab tests such as the MMR titer can evaluate immunity levels, although this method’s necessity and coverage can vary. If immunity is in doubt, receiving another MMR vaccine dose poses no harm according to the CDC’s advice.
Individuals vaccinated with a live measles vaccine in the 1960s are adequately protected, yet those immunized before 1968 with a less effective “killed” vaccine should seek revaccination. This recommendation also applies to individuals unsure about which vaccine type they received.
The symptoms of measles initially affect the respiratory system, spreading throughout the body to cause a high fever, runny nose, cough, red and watery eyes, and a rash. The rash typically appears three to five days after the first symptoms, starting as flat red spots on the face before spreading to other body parts.
When the rash emerges, fever can escalate above 104 degrees Fahrenheit, as stated by the CDC.
While there is no specific treatment for measles, medical practitioners generally focus on symptom relief, complication prevention, and patient comfort.
Maintaining high vaccination coverage is crucial as it fortifies community-wide protection, a concept known as “herd immunity.”
Communities with vaccination rates above 95% create an environment where measles struggles to spread. However, vaccination rates have dropped nationally since the pandemic, with more parents opting for religious or personal exemptions from required vaccinations for their children.
Consequently, measles cases increased in 2024, highlighted by a Chicago outbreak affecting over 60 people. In 2019, measles cases peaked, marking the most significant surge in three decades.
