Texas health authorities declare an end to the Measles outbreak

Texas health authorities declare an end to the Measles outbreak

The West Texas measles outbreak, which lasted from 2023 to 2025, has finally come to an end, marking the conclusion of one of the largest and deadliest measles outbreaks in centuries. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) declared the outbreak over in August 2025, after more than 42 days without any new cases [1][2][4].

The outbreak, which began in Gaines County, resulted in 762 confirmed cases, 99 hospitalizations, and tragically, the deaths of two school-aged children, the first deaths from measles in the United States since 2015 [2]. Most cases (718) were unvaccinated individuals; only 44 had received one or more doses of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine [1][3][4].

The outbreak was initially linked to a case in Gaines County and spread primarily among unvaccinated populations. The low vaccination coverage in some West Texas communities likely contributed significantly to the outbreak's scale and severity [1]. Two-thirds of the cases were children, with serious health consequences including hospitalizations and fatalities. Public health agencies, especially Lubbock Public Health, played a key role in managing the response, coordinating across rural and urban communities [1].

The outbreak highlighted gaps in vaccination coverage in some West Texas communities and the challenges the U.S. has faced in maintaining high measles vaccination coverage after prior successes. As a result, the outbreak led to a record share of incoming kindergartners having an exemption for a required vaccine for the 2024-25 school year, most often for personal or religious reasons [5].

The outbreak response included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring, and public education about measles through awareness campaigns. Despite the outbreak's conclusion, health care providers are urged to remain vigilant and test for measles if their patient has symptoms compatible with the virus. This is because ongoing outbreaks of measles continue in North America and around the world, so additional cases of measles are likely in Texas [1][6].

While exact contemporaneous vaccination rates are not detailed in the search results, it is clear that the outbreak's concentration in unvaccinated people underscores the importance of maintaining high vaccination coverage to prevent such outbreaks in the future. The tireless work of public health professionals and health care providers in containing the outbreak was acknowledged by Dr. Jennifer Shuford, commissioner of the Texas Department of State Health Services [4].

References:

[1] Texas Department of State Health Services. (2025). Measles Outbreak in West Texas. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/idcu/disease/measles/index.shtm

[2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Measles: West Texas Outbreak. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

[3] World Health Organization. (2025). Measles Outbreaks. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/measles

[4] Shuford, J. (2025). Statement on the Conclusion of the West Texas Measles Outbreak. Retrieved from https://www.dshs.texas.gov/news/releases/2025/08/01.aspx

[5] Texas Education Agency. (2025). Immunization Exemptions. Retrieved from https://tea.texas.gov/About_TEA/News_Media/Press_Releases/2025/08/01/Immunization-Exemptions

[6] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2025). Measles: USA. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/measles/cases-outbreaks.html

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