Texas is currently battling an outbreak of measles, to which 124 cases and 18 hospitalizations have already been recorded.
Most of the cases have been among unvaccinated people, and the outbreak has caused the first measles-related death in Texas in a decade.
How this outbreak started
It started at the beginning of 2025 and exploded with an inexorable spread. Public health officials believe that it was due to the unvaccinated pockets which made the virus difficult to contain. Measles is so contagious that it takes only one infected person to provide a spread in highly concentrated places.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Health experts say those most prone to serious complications include young children, those with weakened immunity, and unvaccinated adults. The child that died was unvaccinated, raising once again the dangers of failing to get routine vaccinations.
Symptoms and Complications
Symptoms usually appear within 7-14 days after exposure and include the following:
- High fever
- Coughing, running nose, and red eyes
- Rash that begins on the face and then spreads
Most of them recover without complications, but in more severe cases, measles can cause pneumonia, encephalitis, or swelling of the brain, and even death.
What Officials Are Doing
In response to the outbreak, public exposure warnings have been issued, and vaccination has been urged by Texas health authorities. Some areas are requiring proof of vaccination for entry into schools, daycare centers, and public venues.
What You Can Do
BREAKING: An unvaccinated child has died from measles in West Texas—the first measles death in the U.S. since 2015.
The outbreak in rural West Texas has surged to 124 cases across nine counties, making it the state’s largest in nearly 30 years, according to health officials.… pic.twitter.com/wIq12wTigz
— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) February 26, 2025
If you have never been vaccinated or aren’t sure, now is the time to check your vaccination status. The MMR vaccine against measles, mumps, and rubella is extremely effective and advised for both children and adults.
For anyone who may have been exposed, watch for symptoms and if you develop a fever or rash, call your healthcare provider right away.
Avoid public places if you think you’re infected. Measles spreads quickly, and this outbreak has proved it. With one confirmed death and rising cases, doctors are clear: the way to stay safe is to get vaccinated.
