Texas Measles Outbreak Hits 561 Cases, 58 Hospitalized; MMR Vaccine Urged Amid Spread to Mexico and Canada

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Published Apr 15, 2025, 11:01 PM

The measles outbreak in Texas has escalated, with the state reporting a total of 561 cases as of the latest update on April 15, 2025. This marks a significant increase from the 541 cases reported earlier in the month, highlighting the rapid spread of the virus. The outbreak, which began in late January, has now affected 23 counties across Texas, with the South Plains region being the epicenter. Two unvaccinated children, a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old, have tragically died from the disease, underscoring the severity of the situation. Additionally, 58 individuals have been hospitalized due to the outbreak. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has identified 10 counties with ongoing measles transmission, including Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum. Reeves County was recently added to the list with one case. The majority of cases, 381, are among children 17 years and younger, with 97% of the affected being unvaccinated. The outbreak has also spread to neighboring states, with New Mexico reporting 58 cases and Oklahoma 12 cases linked to the Texas outbreak. An unvaccinated adult in New Mexico also died from measles. Public health officials have attributed the outbreak to stagnant funding for vaccine programs, which has left health departments under-resourced and unable to effectively manage vaccination efforts. This situation is compounded by growing vaccine hesitancy, which has led to lower vaccination rates and created pockets of vulnerability where the virus can spread rapidly, particularly within the Mennonite community in West Texas. In response to the outbreak, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deployed additional teams to Texas to assist with the response efforts. The CDC has reported a total of 712 measles cases across the U.S. as of April 10, with 79 hospitalizations nationwide, the majority linked to the Texas outbreak. In Mexico, 362 cases have been reported, with 347 in Chihuahua alone, prompting the administration of 715,000 vaccines. Meanwhile, Alberta reported 16 new measles cases, California confirmed 9 cases, and New Mexico identified its first case in Doña Ana County, alongside 5 new cases in El Paso. The situation remains critical, with health officials urging the public to get the MMR vaccine to prevent further spread of the disease.

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