Texas measles outbreak 2025: More new cases detected in West Texas

More measles cases detected in West Texas

Texas health officials say they expect to see measles case numbers grow in the coming days and weeks.

What we know:

AUSTIN - While testifying at the Texas House Committee on Public Health, Texas DSHS commissioner Dr. Jennifer Shuford said the total number of cases in the outbreak jumped from 146 to 158 over the weekend. The new cases are within the same nine counties in Texas' South Plains and Panhandle that had detected cases in previous case totals.

"It’s a weakened form of the virus, and it causes a really strong immune response that can last for the rest of your life," she said. "So it’s one of our really good ones."

One child died in the outbreak, and more than 20 people have been hospitalized.

It is the biggest measles outbreak in Texas in 30 years.

Officials say there have been decreasing vaccination rates in the region in recent years due to distrust of vaccinations.

Some of the cases were among people who were vaccinated, according to officials.

Many of the cases are among 5 to 17-year-olds, but officials say they are seeing more cases among children younger than 5 years of age.

Monday's update only included cases connected to the West Texas outbreak, which is mostly centered in Gaines County.

Measles cases have also been detected in Austin and Rockwall County, but both of those cases involved people who had traveled abroad.

Texas DSHS says it is working to acquire more measles vaccines and is working with hospitals to prepare to a larger outbreak.

Starting this week, billboards raising measles awareness are expected to go up in certain areas.

What they're saying:

"We've been increasingly seeing more cases since last year, but we do see import cases routinely, from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, when people travel and they're not vaccinated or they're under-vaccinated. So that does happen," she said.

Cervantes says in highly vaccinated areas, measles is less likely to cause an outbreak if someone comes home with the disease.

However, if it spreads to others in areas that have a high under-vaccinated or not-vaccinated population, that’s when cases start to spread and can become outbreaks.

"I've definitely worked outbreaks where it starts with somebody who was under-vaccinated or vaccinated with very mild disease," she said. "They didn't recognize it as measles, and then it spread to people who weren't vaccinated."

Cervantes acknowledged that there’s still vaccine hesitancy from the pandemic but also a lack of awareness about vaccination status – especially in children.

Texas measles outbreak

By the numbers:

DSHS has not released a more detailed account of the newly confirmed cases. The numbers below are based on the Friday, Feb. 28 update.

Cases by county:

Gaines County: 98
Lubbock County: 2
Lynn County: 2
Terry County: 21
Yoakum County: 6
Dawson County: 8
Ector County: 2
Dallam County: 4
Martin County: 3

Cases by age:

0-4 years: 46 cases
5-17 years: 70 cases
18+: 25 cases
Unknown: 5 cases

Cases by vaccination status:

Not vaccinated: 79
Unknown status: 62
Vaccinated with at least one dose: 5

What's next:

Case numbers are updated by the Texas Department of State Health Services on Tuesdays and Fridays.

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 for 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

SEMINOLE, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: Signs point the way to measles testing in the parking lot of the Seminole Hospital District across from Wigwam Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Seminole, Texas. Eighty cases of measles have been reported in Gaines county

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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 House Committee on Public Health on March 3, 2025. Other information comes from the Department of State Health Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Health Texas