The Texas health department reported 624 measles cases on April 22, a significant increase of 27 from the previous day. This marks one of the worst outbreaks of the childhood disease in the US. The majority of cases are concentrated in Gaines County, with 386 new cases reported.
As of Tuesday, 64 patients have been hospitalized in Texas due to measles, and two unvaccinated children under 10 years old have died from the disease. Nearby New Mexico has also seen a rise in cases, with 65 reported on April 22.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported a nationwide total of 800 measles cases across 25 jurisdictions as of April 17. The CDC had deployed personnel to Texas to respond to the outbreak and provide technical assistance.
If cases continue to spread beyond January 20, 2026, the US could risk losing its measles elimination status. Experts attribute the slow response to a lack of advocacy for vaccination from government health officials and confusion among parents about unproven treatments.
The national vaccination rate has slipped below the 95% threshold necessary for herd immunity, which protects those who cannot be vaccinated. The CDC reports that 96% of US measles cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/measles-cases-texas-rise-624-state-health-department-says-2025-04-22