Health Officials Urge Unvaccinated Individuals to Get Vaccinated Immediately
Austin, TX — A measles outbreak in Gaines County, West Texas, has escalated to 124 confirmed cases, marking the worst outbreak in the state since 1992. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) confirmed today that one unvaccinated child has died from the highly contagious disease.
Health officials are urging anyone who has been exposed and remains unvaccinated to get the mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccine as soon as possible. According to DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), receiving one dose of the MMR vaccine within 72 hours of exposure can still provide some protection for unvaccinated individuals. However, this recommendation does not apply to infants under six months old or immunocompromised individuals.
Measles: A Dangerous and Highly Contagious Virus
“The measles virus is one of the most infectious viruses we know of,” said Dr. Ronald Cook, public health authority for Lubbock and a leader with the Texas Medical Association. Symptoms include high fever (up to 104°F), cough, runny nose, and conjunctivitis (red, watery eyes), with the characteristic measles rash appearing three to five days later.
Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, encephalitis (brain swelling), hearing loss, intellectual disabilities, and even death. So far, 18 people in West Texas have been hospitalized due to the outbreak.
Low Vaccination Rates Contribute to Spread
The best protection against measles is full immunization with two doses of the MMR vaccine, which is 95% effective in preventing the disease. The CDC and DSHS recommend the first dose for children at 12 to 15 months old and the second at 4 to 6 years old. Adults can also receive the vaccine if they have never been immunized.
Dr. Cook emphasized the importance of vaccination, calling it “a very good and safe vaccine that provides lifetime immunity after two full doses.”
To prevent outbreaks, at least 95% of a community must be vaccinated to achieve herd immunity, which protects vulnerable individuals such as infants and cancer patients. However, vaccination rates in Gaines County fall significantly below this threshold:
• Only 82% of kindergarteners and 90% of seventh graders have received the MMR vaccine.
• Less than half of Texas counties meet the ideal 95% or higher vaccination rate for kindergarteners.
Dr. Cook attributes much of the low vaccination rate to misinformation spreading on social media, warning that the outbreak will likely worsen unless more people get vaccinated.
Flu Season Also Reaches Record Levels
The measles outbreak coincides with one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. According to the CDC, flu activity in the U.S. is the worst since 2018, with an estimated 33 million illnesses, 430,000 hospitalizations, and 19,000 deaths this season.
Health officials urge the public to consult their physicians about vaccines that can protect against both measles and influenza.
The Texas Medical Association (TMA), the largest state medical society in the U.S., continues to advocate for public health and vaccination efforts across Texas.
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