A growing measles outbreak in West Texas has raised concerns about the heightened risks the virus poses to pregnant women and newborns.
Among the reported cases is a newborn infected with measles, highlighting the vulnerability of unvaccinated mothers and their babies, according to Lubbock public health officials.
The outbreak, which has spread across Texas, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, has resulted in 258 reported cases, with 81 infections occurring in children aged four and younger. At least two pregnant women have also been infected, according to medical officials at Covenant Hospital in Lubbock.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne disease that causes fever, rash, red eyes, and cough. In severe cases, it can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), blindness, or even death.
For pregnant women, measles poses additional dangers, including:
- Increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth if contracted early in pregnancy.
- Potential transmission to the baby before or after birth. If a mother lacks immunity, her newborn is at high risk of infection.
- Higher likelihood of severe complications such as pneumonia.
Newborns typically inherit some immunity from their mothers, but this only applies if the mother is vaccinated. Infants under six months old are especially vulnerable if their mother does not have measles immunity.
Dr. Lynn Yee, an obstetrics and gynecology professor at Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, warned that newborns have a weaker immune system, making recovery from measles more complicated.
Unlike the general population, pregnant women cannot receive the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine after exposure. Instead, they may be given immunoglobulin (antibodies) within six days of exposure to reduce the severity of infection. Infants younger than six months can also receive this treatment.
Dr. Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children’s Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, emphasized that measles outbreaks are affecting unvaccinated pregnant women, which underscores the widespread nature of the epidemic.
Doctors are also concerned about rubella, another virus covered by the MMR vaccine. Dr. William Moss, director of the International Vaccine Access Center at Johns Hopkins, noted that women unvaccinated for measles are also unprotected against rubella.
A rubella infection during the first trimester of pregnancy carries a 90% risk of causing congenital rubella syndrome (CRS), which can lead to:
- Severe developmental delays
- Heart defects
- Deafness and cataracts
According to the CDC, one in three babies with CRS dies before their first birthday. While rubella was eliminated in the US in 2004, cases still occur, mostly linked to international travel.
Health experts stress that the MMR vaccine is highly effective, providing:
- 93% protection against measles after one dose, increasing to 97% with a second dose.
- 97% immunity against rubella after one dose.
“This is preventable. This should not be happening,” said Dr. Yee.
She urged everyone, especially women planning to become pregnant, to get vaccinated.
CNN and the Washington Post contributed to this report.
