Texas measles outbreak expands into New Mexico: What to know

A measles outbreak continues to hit Texas, state well being officers warned Tuesday.

The Texas Division of State Well being Companies reported 24 circumstances of the illness have been recognized in Gaines County over a two-week interval as of Tuesday.

All the circumstances are in unvaccinated residents of the northwestern Texas county, and 22 of the circumstances are in kids. 9 sufferers have been hospitalized within the outbreak.

“Because of the extremely contagious nature of this illness, further circumstances are more likely to happen in Gaines County and the encompassing communities,” the state company stated within the Tuesday replace.

Brownfield Impartial College District reported on social media that the DSHS has confirmed circumstances of measles in Terry County to the district Tuesday, stating that “it’s more likely to proceed to unfold.” Lynn County reported one case of the illness final week.

The New Mexico Division of Well being reported a case of measles in an unvaccinated teenager in Lea County − which borders Gaines County − Tuesday.

“It is very important stand up so far on vaccinations now, particularly should you or your kids aren’t absolutely immunized for measles,” Dr. Miranda Durham, New Mexico’s Chief Medical Officer, stated within the announcement.

Measles circumstances rise as vaccine charges fall

Measles had been declared eradicated within the U.S. in 2000, in response to the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Nevertheless, as vaccine charges have decreased, the illness has seen a rebound. The CDC reported 285 measles circumstances in 33 states in 2024, and 89% of the circumstances final 12 months had been in those that had been unvaccinated or of unknown vaccine standing.

The CDC had beforehand reported 14 circumstances of measles in 2025 as of Feb. 6.

In 2024, the CDC reported that protection for all vaccines in kids enrolled in kindergarten fell beneath 93%, with uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine standing at 92.7%.

What are the signs of measles?

Measles is a extremely contagious illness the place signs could start 7 to 14 days after publicity to the virus, in response to the CDC.

Inital signs could embody:

• Excessive fever which will spike to greater than 104 levels
• Cough
• Runny nostril
• Pink, watery eyes

Small white bumps could start to seem in an contaminated individual’s mouth two to a few days after symptom onset and a rash could start to unfold three to 5 days after symptom onset.