The number of measles cases in Texas has surged to 146, marking the state’s largest outbreak in nearly three decades, health officials confirmed on Friday. The outbreak, which has spread across nine counties, claimed the life of an unvaccinated school-aged child earlier this week—the first U.S. measles death since 2015.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS), the outbreak has grown by 22 cases since Tuesday, with nearly 100 cases concentrated in Gaines County. At least 20 patients have been hospitalized. The child who died Tuesday night was treated at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, though officials confirmed the patient was not a Lubbock County resident.
Federal Response and Vaccine Debate
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a known vaccine skeptic, initially downplayed the outbreak earlier this week, calling it “not unusual.” However, by Friday afternoon, Kennedy took to X (formerly Twitter) to express sympathy for those affected and acknowledged the “serious impact” of the outbreak. He also assured the public that funding for Texas’ immunization program would continue and that containing the outbreak remains a “top priority.”
Rural West Texas Community Hit Hard
Health officials have traced the epicenter of the outbreak to a “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite community in rural West Texas, where vaccination rates have long been a concern. Gaines County, a region with a high homeschooling population, has one of the state’s highest exemption rates for childhood vaccines—nearly 14% of school-aged children opted out of at least one required vaccine last year.
Under Texas law, parents can claim exemptions from school vaccines for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. However, the actual number of unvaccinated children in the area is likely much higher, as homeschooling families are not required to report immunization data.
Health Officials Warn of Rising Risk
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a space. While most children recover, complications such as pneumonia, brain swelling, blindness, and death can occur.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends two doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is highly effective in preventing infection. National vaccination rates have declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, leaving many communities vulnerable.
In a Friday news conference in Austin, health officials confirmed the first measles case in Travis County since 2019—an unvaccinated infant who contracted the virus while traveling overseas. The child’s family members, who were vaccinated, are isolating to prevent further spread.
Chris Van Deusen, a spokesman for Texas DSHS, reported that four other Texas cases this year—two in Houston, one in Rockwall County, and the Travis County case—were linked to international travel and not connected to the West Texas outbreak.
Calls for Vaccination Amid Rising Cases
At the Austin news conference, U.S. Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas) made a direct plea to the public.
“We’re here to say quite simply: Measles can kill, ignorance can kill, and vaccine denial definitely kills,” Doggett stated.
Meanwhile, officials in two Texas cities reported possible rubella cases this week, though health authorities have yet to confirm any additional infections.
With the outbreak showing no signs of slowing, health officials continue to urge Texans to get vaccinated—a critical step in preventing further spread of this once-eliminated disease.
