Texas Measles Outbreak Highlights Vaccine Hesitancy in Undervaccinated Communities

Nearly 60 cases have been confirmed in a rural Mennonite community, raising concerns about vaccination rates and public health strategies.

The South Plains region of Texas is experiencing a measles outbreak with 58 confirmed cases, primarily in an under-vaccinated Mennonite community in Gaines County.
Vaccination rates in the affected area are significantly below the 95% threshold required for herd immunity, with one school district reporting nearly 48% of students claiming vaccine exemptions.
Health officials are working to educate the community about immunizations in multiple languages, including Low German, Spanish, and English, while coordinating with the CDC to contain the outbreak.
Experts warn that declining vaccination rates nationwide, exacerbated by vaccine hesitancy, could lead to more frequent outbreaks and jeopardize the U.S.'s measles elimination status achieved in 2000.
The outbreak coincides with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s appointment as Secretary of Health and Human Services, raising concerns about his history of vaccine skepticism and its potential impact on public health efforts.