A recent measles outbreak in West Texas has jumped from two cases among unvaccinated children to 48, with three cases reported in a neighboring county in New Mexico. Thirteen children have been hospitalized due to the highly contagious disease. Health officials suspect that between 200 and 300 people are infected but untested.
The measles case count likely represents a fraction of the true number of infections, as vaccination rates for the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine in Texas schools are lower than 50%. In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that kindergarten pupils had a vaccination rate for all childhood vaccines below 93%, which is under the necessary threshold to prevent outbreaks.
The issue of vaccination rates has sparked concerns, especially with newly sworn-in Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy, expressing criticism of vaccines, citing possible safety issues. However, health experts emphasize that vaccines are safe and highly effective at preventing illness.
If unvaccinated, being exposed to the measles virus can lead to severe symptoms, including a high fever, copious congestion, and pneumonia. The risk is particularly high for young children, with one in 20 cases leading to hospitalization and one in 1,000 resulting in death from respiratory or neurologic complications.
Measles has become a significant public health threat worldwide, with 136,000 measles fatalities reported between 2020 and 2022. The virus can cause long-term harm, including premature birth, low birth weight, and developmental issues.
The US measles outbreak highlights the need for increased vaccination rates and vigilance over vaccine safety. As vaccination exemptions continue to rise, health officials warn that more outbreaks are inevitable unless measures are taken to address these concerns.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2025/02/18/widening-measles-outbreak-in-texas-signals-problem-with-vaccine-uptake