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2mo ago

Texas Measles Outbreak Climbs to 48 Cases, Mostly Among Unvaccinated Children

The outbreak, centered in Gaines County, is the state's worst in nearly 30 years, with low vaccination rates fueling its rapid spread.

This Electron Micrograph Reveals Both A Paramyxovirus Measles Virus, And Virions Of The Polyomavirus, Simian Virus Sv40 Smaller Circles. The Envelope Of The Measles Virus Has Broken, Exposing The Nucleocapsid Filaments. Interest In Sv40 Has Increased In The Last Several Years Because The Virus Was Found In Certain Forms Of Cancer In Humans, For Instance Mesotheliomas Rare Tumors Located In The Lungs, Brain, And Bone Tumors Carbone Et Al. , 1994; Jasani Et Al. , 2001. (Photo By BSIP/UIG Via Getty Images)
A measles testing site in Texas.
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Overview

  • The measles outbreak in West Texas has doubled to 48 confirmed cases, with Gaines County as the epicenter and additional cases reported in three nearby counties.
  • All infected individuals are unvaccinated or have unknown vaccination status, and 13 people, including young children, have been hospitalized.
  • Gaines County has one of the state's highest vaccine exemption rates, with nearly 18% of kindergartners unvaccinated in the 2023-24 school year.
  • Health officials warn the outbreak is likely to grow due to measles' high contagiousness and low vaccination rates in affected areas, which fall below the 95% threshold for herd immunity.
  • The outbreak highlights concerns over declining vaccination rates nationwide, exacerbated by vaccine hesitancy and misinformation, as measles cases rise after years of being largely controlled.