A measles outbreak has taken hold in Texas and New Mexico, with health departments reporting a total of 351 cases as of Friday. The number of cases has already surpassed last year’s count nationwide, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The increase is attributed to declining childhood vaccination rates, with measles cases rising in correlation with lower vaccine coverage. Texas, which has a high rate of vaccine exemptions, has seen a significant spike in cases.
Gaines County, Texas, is at the center of the outbreak, with hospitalizations rising to 40 from 36. The Texas health department has identified over 300 patients as “unvaccinated or unknown.”
New Mexico has also reported an increase, with cases rising to 42, including two cases in Eddy County. The CDC has attributed most confirmed cases in 2025 to the outbreak.
The agency emphasizes that the MMR vaccine is a crucial tool in preventing measles. Despite concerns raised by US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., he recently acknowledged the serious impact of the outbreak and announced the government’s provision of resources, including vaccines.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/measles-cases-rise-309-texas-state-health-department-says-2025-03-21