Texas faces worst measles outbreak in 30 years, with 90 cases recorded
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The majority of cases recorded were unvaccinated as experts warn that more cases will surface soon due to the highly contagious nature of the potentially fatal disease.
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A sign is seen outside of Seminole Hospital District offering measles testing, on Friday, February 21, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. (AP)
Texas has recorded 90 cases of measles in the South Plains region, reaching "historic levels" as described by Texan officials, with the majority of cases being children and teenagers; 51 cases between the age of five and 17, and 16 cases in children under 4.
Most patients were either unvaccinated against the highly contagious and potentially deadly illness by their parents, or their vaccination status was unknown, and experts are warning that more cases are "likely to occur" as nine cases are recorded in Lea County, New Mexico.
A Department of State Health Services (DSHS) official said that the outbreak is the worst they have seen in 30 years.
The outbreak is concentrated in Gaines County in Western Texas where 57 cases were reported in the country which has one of the highest immunization exemption rates for the 2023-2024 school year, according to DSHS data.
“We have a high, high number of unvaccinated,” said Tonya Guffey, chief nursing officer at Seminole Hospital district to NBC, adding “It’s not that they’re not educated. It’s just what their belief is... We educate, we encourage, we do what we can for the community, but it’s their choice.”
Anti-vax rhetoric feeds outbreaks
The Texas outbreak comes as Robert F Kennedy took office as Secretary of Health in Trump's administration after Trump nominated him.
RFK is known as a "vaccine conspiracy theorist" who is now shutting down vaccine-related initiatives, starting with ordering the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt several campaigns that encourage vaccination.
In 2024 alone, the US recorded 285 cases of measles in 16 outbreaks, and 69% of these cases were connected to these outbreaks as anti-vax sentiment rises in the United States, with 40% of the cases requiring hospitalization. Meanwhile in 2023, only 59 cases were recorded.
The highly contagious and potentially deadly disease was first eradicated in the United States in 2000, however, in 2019, 1,215 cases of measles were recorded across 30 states, and the majority of those affected hadn't received their vaccination.
