Fri Mar 28 20:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Measles Outbreak in Texas Spreads Across States, Exceeding 500 Cases Nationwide

**Dallas, TX** – A measles outbreak originating in Texas has surged to over 500 cases nationwide, marking the second-highest annual total in the last decade, according to an NBC News tally of state health department data. The rapid spread, fueled by a low vaccination rate in some areas, has health officials sounding the alarm.

Texas accounts for the majority of cases, with over 400 confirmed infections and one death, a 6-year-old child. Forty-one patients have required hospitalization. The outbreak, which began in late January in Gaines County – an area with a nearly 18% school vaccine exemption rate – has spread to New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas. Genetic sequencing confirms a link between the virus in these states and the Texas outbreak.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates 92.7% of kindergarteners have received the MMR vaccine, concerns remain about lower vaccination rates among younger children. One recent study suggests that the rate could be as low as 72% for children under 5. This vulnerability contributes to the rapid spread of the highly contagious virus, which can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves a room.

The Texas Department of State Health Services is considering vaccinating infants as young as 6 months old in affected areas, a measure the CDC supports during outbreaks. The two-dose MMR vaccine is 97% effective at preventing measles, highlighting the importance of vaccination in controlling the outbreak.

Health officials are working to increase vaccination rates, but efforts have met with limited success in some areas. Experts suggest it could take a year or more to bring the outbreak under control. Symptoms of measles include high fever, cough, pink eye, runny nose, and rash, with severe complications potentially leading to death. The public is urged to ensure their children are up-to-date on their MMR vaccinations.

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