At least 58 new cases of measles have been reported in northwest Texas in recent weeks, state health officials said Tuesday, in what they describe as a “highly contagious” outbreak likely linked to low vaccination rates.
The majority of these new cases in rural northwest Texas are concentrated in Gaines County, where 45 cases have been documented, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Over the past three weeks, nine cases have emerged in Terry County, two in Yoakum County, and one each in Lubbock and Lynn counties.
At least four patients had been vaccinated, but “the rest are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown,” the department stated.
Most infections have occurred in school-aged children, with 13 of them requiring hospitalization.
More Measles Cases Expected
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely in Gaines County and neighboring communities,” state health officials warned. “The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is working with the South Plains Public Health District and the Lubbock Public Health Department to investigate the outbreak.”
Last week, the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate confirmed Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic, as head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Kennedy has been particularly critical of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, falsely linking it to autism. A representative for the U.S. Department of Health was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.
U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician from Louisiana, Texas’ eastern neighbor, urged Texans to get the measles vaccine, which “has been proven safe and effective since 1963.”
Predictably, Cassidy’s statement was met with online criticism, as some pointed out his role in a key vote supporting Kennedy’s confirmation.
What Are the Symptoms of Measles?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), measles symptoms appear seven to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Initial symptoms typically include:
- High fever
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
A measles rash appears three to five days after these initial symptoms. Other signs include:
- When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to over 104°F.
- Koplik’s spots: tiny white spots that appear inside the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.
- Small raised bumps that may form on top of the red spots, which can merge and spread from the head to the rest of the body.
The Measles Vaccine
Measles can be almost entirely prevented through vaccination. In the U.S., the vaccine is administered as part of the MMR vaccine, which contains a weakened form of the virus. Once injected, the virus replicates at low levels, triggering a strong immune response without causing the disease.
A two-dose series is recommended: the first dose is given to children between 12 and 15 months old, and the second dose around age five. Older children and unvaccinated adults can also receive the vaccine. Full protection typically occurs about two weeks after the second dose.
This vaccine is highly effective, providing approximately 97% protection for fully vaccinated individuals. As a result, measles cases and deaths saw a dramatic decline in the second half of the 20th century. In fact, measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2020, meaning sustained transmission no longer occurs—only isolated outbreaks.
The vaccine is also extremely safe. Common side effects are mild, such as soreness at the injection site and low-grade fever. In rare cases, children may experience seizures, but these have not been linked to long-term consequences. Since a now-retracted 1998 study falsely suggested a link between the MMR vaccine and autism, extensive research has repeatedly disproven any such connection.
Despite its safety and effectiveness, not everyone can be vaccinated. For example, immunocompromised individuals—such as those with HIV or undergoing chemotherapy—may not be eligible. Pregnant women are also advised against receiving the vaccine.
What’s Next?
Due to the relatively low vaccination rate in Gaines County, the number of cases in this outbreak is expected to rise. Around 82% of kindergarteners in the county have received the MMR vaccine, compared to the state average of over 94%. Herd immunity is believed to require at least 95% coverage.
Measles is highly contagious, meaning unvaccinated individuals in the area remain at risk. Those infected should isolate for up to four days after the rash appears to limit further spread. Unvaccinated individuals are urged to get vaccinated. The Texas Department of State Health Services has announced that vaccines are available at the South Plains Public Health District Clinic.
The discomfort of a shot is certainly minor compared to the serious consequences of the disease.
