A measles outbreak in West Texas has grown to 58 cases, with most centered in Gaines County where 45 cases have been reported. The cases are mainly among children aged 5-17 and those who are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status. Thirteen people have been hospitalized due to the illness.
Local health departments in the area are hosting free vaccination clinics to combat the spread of the disease. In fact, there have been over 95 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations at a clinic hosted by the South Plains Public Health District.
Measles is an airborne illness that can cause severe symptoms such as rash, fever, and cough, and in some cases, blindness, pneumonia, or even death. The US has fallen short of its goal to vaccinate at least 95% of children in kindergarten with two doses of the MMR vaccine for four years in a row.
The outbreak has also spread to Lea County, New Mexico, where eight cases have been detected. While six are among unvaccinated individuals, none have been hospitalized. The New Mexico Department of Health is also providing free vaccination clinics for residents.
Last year, there were 285 measles cases reported in the US, the highest since 2019.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/02/18/health/texas-measles-outbreak/index.html