The measles outbreak in western Texas continues to grow with 20 additional cases confirmed, raising the total to 279 cases, according to new state data published on Tuesday.
Almost all cases are found in non -vaccinated individuals or individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas State Health Services Department (DSHS). Only two cases are among totally vaccinated people. At least 36 people have been hospitalized so far, said the state.
In the outbreak of Texas, children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 constitute most cases, at age 120, followed by children 4 years and under 88 cases, according to the DSH data.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases occur in the surrounding area and the surrounding communities,” said the DSHS in its update.
The number of measles cases in Texas is close to the confirmed number for the totality of last year in the United States, which saw 285 cases throughout the country, according to data from the centers for disease control and prevention
So far two probable measles deaths have been reported in the United States this year. The first death reported was in Texas, according to the DSHS. The child had no known underlying condition, according to the department.
Death was the first death of measles in the United States registered in a decade, according to CDC data.
A medical staff member manages a dose of the measles vaccine to a child in a health center in Lubbock, Texas, on February 27, 2025.
Ronaldo Schemidt/AFP through Getty Images, Archive
A possible measles death was recorded after a non -vaccinated resident of New Mexico tested positive for the virus after his death. New Mexico’s Department of Health (NMDOH) saying The official cause of death is still under investigation.
New Mexico has reported A total of 33 measles cases So far this year, according to the NMDOH. Many of the cases have been confirmed in Lea County, which limits with western Texas.
Health officials suspect that there may be a connection between the cases of Texas and New Mexico, but a link has not yet been confirmed.
The CDCs have confirmed 301 measles cases in at least 14 states so far this year, including Alaska, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont and Washington, according to New Data published on Friday.
Most of the cases confirmed nationwide are found in unaccoured people or whose vaccination status is unknown, said the CDC. Of these cases, 3% are among those who received only one dose of the MMR inoculation (measles, paper and rubella) and 2% are among those who received the two required doses, according to the CDC.
The CDC recommended That people receive two doses of the MMR vaccine, the first at the ages of 12 to 15 months and the second dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years.
A dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective, says CDC. Most vaccinated adults do not need a reinforcement, according to the health agency.
Given the growing measles outbreak, the Federal Health Agency issued a alert On March 7, saying that parents in the outbreak should consider that their children have a third early dose of the MMR vaccine. Texas health officials have also recommended early vaccination for babies living in outbreak areas.
ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud and Sony Salzman contributed to this report.
