Confirmed measles cases in Texas have risen from 24 to 58 in just six days, with 13 hospitalizations reported.
Measles rash
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The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has an updated report of the ongoing measles outbreak in the South Plains region of Texas. As of February 18, 2025, 58 cases have been identified, with symptoms starting within the past three weeks. 13 patients have been hospitalized, and four of the cases were vaccinated. The remaining cases are unvaccinated, or their vaccination status is unknown. Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are expected in Gaines County and surrounding areas. DSHS is working with the South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak.
Age Breakdown of Measles Cases
Texas Measles Cases by County
According to the CDC, the best way to prevent measles is through immunization with two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.2
Since our last update on February 12, when the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 24 measles cases, the total number of confirmed cases has increased by 34 cases over six days. Averaging about six new cases per day.3
In our recent interview with Su H Wang, MD, FACP, MPH, medical director for the Chinese Medical Program and the Viral Hepatitis Programs at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Cente, spoke in regards to this outbreak she stated, “Measles is incredibly transmissible, and this outbreak is a stark reminder of the consequences of vaccine reluctance,” she said. “These outbreaks could be avoided if we stay vigilant and continue to communicate the importance of vaccines.”4
According to the CDC, the measles virus can live up to 2 hours in airspace after an infected person leaves an area and can linger on surfaces for hours. And, if you put a person with measles in a room with 10 people who have not been vaccinated or have not previously contracted measles, 9 of those people will also get the disease.5
In another previous interview with Contagion, Patricia A Stinchfield, RN, MS, CPNP, former president of National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID) discussed the airborne disease. “Measles is the most contagious and easily transmittable virus we know—far more than COVID or influenza,” she said.6
The number of confirmed measles cases in Texas has increased by 34 in six days, averaging six new cases per day.
13 patients have been hospitalized, and the majority of cases are in unvaccinated individuals.
Health officials emphasize the importance of MMR vaccination as the outbreak spreads, with concerns over declining immunization rates.
During her career as a pediatric nurse practitioner, Stinchfield has treated numerous measles cases. She oversaw 3 outbreaks, and says that when young children come in with measles, they are “some of the sickest children.”6
CDC reported there's been a trend showing a reduction in children getting their standard immunizations. In January 2023, the CDC reported that over the last two school years, the national coverage for childhood state-required vaccines among kindergarten students declined from 95% to approximately 93%. During the 2020-21 school year, vaccinations dropped to 94% and during the 2021-22 school year it dropped again to approximately 93%.7
“Compared with the 2020–21 school year, vaccination coverage decreased 0.4–0.9 percentage points for all vaccines. Although 2.6% of kindergartners had an exemption for at least 1 vaccine, an additional 3.9% who did not have an exemption were not up to date with MMR,” the investigators wrote in this MMWR report. And the MMWR report said that as many as 250,000 kindergartners are not protected against measles.7
Updates will be posted every Tuesday and Friday if new cases are reported by the Texas DSHS.1
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