Measles cases are on the rise in parts of the United States, with significant outbreaks reported in West Texas and New Mexico, the New York Times reports.
More than 290 people have been infected so far, many of them unvaccinated school-age children. The outbreak has also reached Oklahoma, where four cases have been linked to the Texas and New Mexico clusters. Additionally, twelve other states have reported isolated cases, mostly connected to international travel.
The Texas outbreak began in late January in Gaines County, a rural area in the western part of the state. Since then, it has spread to neighboring counties, with at least 259 reported cases. Thirty-four people have been hospitalized, and one unvaccinated young child died—the first measles-related death in the U.S. in a decade.
New Mexico declared an outbreak in Lea County, which borders Gaines County. While officials have not officially linked the cases in New Mexico to those in Texas, they acknowledge that they are “undoubtedly related.” In New Mexico, the outbreak has affected more than 30 people, and one unvaccinated resident died after contracting the virus, though the exact cause of death is still under investigation.
In both states, the majority of cases have occurred in people who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
One factor contributing to the outbreak is low vaccination rates in some communities. In Gaines County, childhood vaccination rates have historically been lower than the national average. The county has a large Mennonite population, a group that, while not religiously opposed to vaccines, often avoids conventional medical care.
In the 2023 school year, only 82% of kindergarten students in Gaines County had received the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, significantly below the 95% threshold needed to prevent outbreaks. Some school districts in the area have even lower rates. In Loop Independent School District, just 46% of kindergarten students were vaccinated in 2023, down from 82% in 2019.
Texas public schools require students to be vaccinated, but parents can request exemptions for personal or religious reasons. Gaines County has one of the highest exemption rates in the state.
In contrast, vaccination rates in New Mexico are generally higher. About 94% of children and teens in Lea County have received the MMR vaccine. However, adult vaccination rates are lower—only 55% of adults have received both recommended doses, and more than half of the reported measles cases in New Mexico have been in adults.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known. The virus spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and it can linger in a room for up to two hours after the person has left. In a completely unvaccinated community, one measles case can lead to 18 more infections.
While measles symptoms usually resolve on their own, severe cases can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling, and immune system damage. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that for every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die.
There is no antiviral treatment for measles. Instead, doctors focus on managing symptoms. This makes vaccination the most effective way to prevent the disease. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are 97% effective at preventing infection.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000 due to widespread vaccination efforts. However, experts are concerned that declining immunization rates could lead to a resurgence of the disease. The national vaccination rate among kindergartners has dropped to 93%, below the recommended 95% threshold. Some regions, such as West Texas, have even lower rates.
Public health officials warn that if vaccination rates continue to decline, measles outbreaks may become more frequent and severe. The current outbreak, which started in Texas, has already spread across state lines.
