Overview
- Texas has reported 505 measles cases across 22 counties since late January, with the majority of infections in unvaccinated school-aged children.
- The outbreak has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Mexico, raising concerns about further transmission in urban areas and other states.
- Public health officials have adjusted vaccination protocols, recommending early MMR doses for infants and expedited second doses for children in affected areas.
- Federal and local responses include CDC deployments, vaccination clinics, and public health messaging to counter vaccine hesitancy.
- Experts warn that the outbreak, fueled by low vaccination rates, could threaten the U.S.'s measles elimination status if it continues beyond 12 months.