Texas measles outbreak 2025: Cases reported in 2 new counties, total rises to 422
The Texas Department of State Health Services reported 22 new measles cases in connection with a West Texas measles outbreak Tuesday.
The agency reported cases in two Central Texas counties that hadn't previously reported cases, Brown and Erath counties.
Tuesday's update brings the total number of cases since January to 422.
One person has been hospitalized since Friday.
Texas measles outbreak
The Latest:
The 22-case jump on Tuesday added new cases in Brown and Erath counties in Central Texas, the first cases reported in those counties.
The outbreak has seen 42 people hospitalized since the outbreak started. One of those patients was added in the latest update.
Two cases reported in Tuesday's update were in people who were vaccinated. Since January, only four of the 422 cases have been in people who were fully vaccinated. Another case reported Tuesday was in a person who had one dose of the vaccine.
The majority of the cases are in Gaines County. On Tuesday, health officials noted 10 new cases had been added to the county's total, pushing it to 280 total cases.
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In Texas, one school-aged child died from complications with the measles.
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By the numbers:
Here are the total cases by county:
- Gaines County: 280
- Lubbock County: 27
- Lynn County: 1
- Terry County: 41
- Yoakum County: 16
- Dawson County: 14
- Ector County: 5
- Dallam County: 7
- Martin County: 3
- Cochran County : 8
- Lamar County: 10
- Garza County: 2
- Hale County: 1
- Hockley County: 2
- Lamb County: 1
- Andrews County: 1
- Midland County: 1
- Brown County: 1
- Erath County: 1
Here are the total cases by age:
- 0-4 years: 141 cases
- 5-17 years: 169 cases
- 18+: 87 cases
- Unknown: 25 cases
READ MORE: Measles vaccination rates in Texas: Find your school district.
Here is the vaccination status of the patients:
- Not Vaccinated/unknown status: 417
- Vaccinated with one dose: 1
- Vaccinated with two or more doses: 4
What's next:
The Texas Department of State Health Services releases case updates on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Other measles cases in Texas
There have been other cases reported in Texas, but officials say they were not connected to the outbreak in West Texas.
Most of the cases were connected to international travel.
- Harris County: 3
- Fort Bend: 1
- Rockwall County: 1
- Travis County: 1
What is measles?
Why you should care:
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness. The virus is transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes.
Measles virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
Illness onset (high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes) begins a week or two after someone is exposed. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body.
A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People with measles should stay home from work or school during that period.
Symptoms of Measles
Common symptoms of measles include:
- High fever (as high as 105°F)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red and watery eyes
- Tiny white spots that may appear inside the mouth 2-3 days after symptoms begin
- Rash 3-5 days after other signs of illness. The "measles rash" typically starts at the face and then spreads down to the rest of the body.
How to prevent getting measles
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.
Some vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles; however, they generally experience milder symptoms and are less likely to spread the disease to other people.
What to do if you've been exposed to measles
If you think you have measles or have been exposed to someone with measles, isolate yourself from others and call your healthcare provider before arriving to be tested so they can prepare for your arrival without exposing other people to the virus. Measles is extremely contagious and can cause life-threatening illness to anyone who is not protected against the virus. Review your and your child’s vaccination history to see if you are up-to-date on your measles vaccines. Additionally, discuss with your provider your vaccination history and any questions about these vaccines.
Controlling outbreaks in group settings
- People with confirmed or suspected measles should stay home from school, work, and other group settings until after the fourth day of rash onset.
- During an outbreak, people without documented immunity from vaccination or previous measles infection should be isolated from anyone with measles to protect those without immunity and control the outbreak.
- According to the Texas Administrative Code (TAC) Rule §97.7, schools and childcare settings shall exclude unimmunized children for at least 21 days after the last date the unimmunized child was exposed to a measles case.
The Source: Information in this article comes from a Texas Department of State Health Services update on Tuesday, April 1.