Texas Measles Outbreak Ends After Over 760 Confirmed Cases and Two Deaths, Health Officials Warn of Continued Threat
The recent measles outbreak in West Texas, one of the largest and deadliest in centuries, has been officially declared over by state health officials. This announcement comes after 42 days without any new cases being reported in the affected counties, a period long enough to suggest that two incubation periods have passed without further transmission.
Since late January, Texas has confirmed at least 762 measles cases associated with this outbreak, leading to nearly 100 hospitalizations. Regrettably, two school-aged children from Texas have also succumbed to the disease – the first such deaths in the US since 2015.
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services, commended the efforts of public health professionals across the state for their role in containing one of the most contagious viruses. She attributed this success to a comprehensive outbreak response that included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring, and public awareness campaigns. The healthcare professionals who identified and treated cases were also acknowledged for their crucial contributions.
Cases linked to the Texas outbreak have also been reported in New Mexico, where one fatality occurred, as well as Oklahoma and potentially Kansas. New Mexico reported three new cases on Thursday, increasing their total for the year to 100. However, it remains unclear whether these cases are connected to the broader outbreak.
Across the US, there have been over 1,350 measles cases this year – a record number since measles was eradicated in the country in 2000. Outbreak cases in Texas account for more than half of the national total.
Most cases in Texas were concentrated around Gaines County, where vaccination rates among kindergarteners are among the lowest in the state. Nationwide, the majority of measles cases have been in unvaccinated individuals; only about 8% of cases this year have been in people known to have received at least one dose of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, according to data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Texas health officials warn that the end of this outbreak does not signify the elimination of the measles threat. Given ongoing outbreaks in North America and worldwide, additional cases of measles are expected in Texas during the remainder of the year. Healthcare providers are encouraged to remain vigilant and test for measles if a patient exhibits symptoms compatible with the virus.
At least 41 states have reported measles cases this year, and vaccination coverage among kindergarteners decreased again last school year. For the 2024-25 school year, a record proportion of incoming kindergartners had an exemption for a mandatory vaccine, most often for personal or religious reasons, according to CDC data.