An alarming surge of measles outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico has resulted in over 250 cases and led to the unfortunate deaths of two individuals who were not vaccinated. Measles, a highly infectious airborne virus, transmits effortlessly when an infected person breathes, sneezes, or coughs but can largely be prevented with vaccination — a method that had resulted in its declared elimination from the U.S. back in 2000.
In Texas, health authorities reported 25 additional measles cases since last Friday, pushing the state’s count to 223, with 29 individuals currently in hospitals. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s tally rose to 33 after three new cases were identified. This outbreak, primarily centered in Lea County near the West Texas border, has extended to Eddy County with one confirmed case. Two probable measles cases were also reported in Oklahoma and are believed to be linked to the outbreaks in West Texas and New Mexico. The grim toll includes the death of a school-aged child in Texas last month and the death of an adult in New Mexico in the past week.
Measles is not confining its spread to these southwestern states alone. The disease has also emerged in other regions such as Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers three or more related cases an outbreak, and this criterion has been met in three clusters across the country in 2025. Typically, U.S. outbreaks trace back to infected travelers from abroad who unwittingly expose communities, where low vaccination rates facilitate further spread.
To protect against measles, the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine remains the most effective measure. The CDC advises administering the first dose to children between 12 and 15 months and a second between the ages of 4 and 6 years. Adults who reside in areas experiencing outbreaks and are at high risk for infection — such as household members of a measles patient or those with compromised respiratory systems — might want to consider a booster shot. Those who have “presumptive evidence of immunity” typically do not require another vaccination. Qualifying evidence includes records of prior vaccination, laboratory proof of past infection, or birth before 1957 when most people were likely naturally infected.
Checking antibody levels through an MMR titer test is an option but isn’t always recommended due to varied insurance coverage. Importantly, receiving an additional MMR vaccine is harmless for anyone concerned about diminishing immunity. The CDC specifies that individuals vaccinated with a live measles vaccine in the 1960s are covered, but those immunized with the less effective “killed” virus vaccine before 1968 should seek revaccination with at least one live virus dose.
Symptoms of measles begin in the respiratory system before circulating through the body, characterized by high fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes, and eventually a rash. The rash usually surfaces three to five days post initial symptoms, manifesting as flat red spots starting on the face before cascading onto the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may escalate to over 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
Without targeted treatments for measles, healthcare providers focus on reducing symptoms, preventing complications, and ensuring patient comfort. Significantly, high vaccination rates — 95% or more — are crucial in thwarting the spread of communicable diseases like measles through communities by achieving “herd immunity”. However, since the onset of the pandemic, childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide, with an increase in exemptions claimed for religious or personal reasons.
The resurgence of measles in the U.S. was also evident in 2024 with a notable outbreak in Chicago infecting more than 60 people. Back in 2019, the United States encountered its highest measles case count in nearly three decades, underscoring the ongoing importance of maintaining robust vaccination programs.
