Texas is facing a major measles outbreak, with 481 confirmed cases spreading across 19 counties. This is the state’s biggest battle with the disease in over 30 years, and it’s already taken one young life. Health officials warn that the virus, which has sickened 56 people badly enough to need hospital care, is jumping fast—mostly because too few people got vaccinated. With the U.S. now topping last year’s total measles cases, this Texas surge is a red flag for the whole country.
The outbreak began in Gaines County, a small rural spot southwest of Lubbock. There, 322 people—mostly kids—have caught measles, making up most of the state’s cases. Many in this area, including a local Mennonite community, don’t get vaccines, often for religious reasons. Out of all 481 sick Texans, 471 either skipped the shot or aren’t sure if they got it. Only four who had both vaccine doses got sick, showing how well the shot works when people take it.
What started in Gaines has spilled out, hitting counties like Brown and Erath, hundreds of miles away. Kids are getting hit hardest: 169 cases are in 5- to 17-year-olds, and 141 are in little ones 4 and under.
“This virus doesn’t stop unless we stop it,” said Dr. Maria Lopez, a children’s doctor in Lubbock. “It’s spreading too fast.”
In February, a school-aged child from Gaines County—unvaccinated and otherwise healthy—died from measles in a Lubbock hospital. It’s the first U.S. death from the disease in 10 years, and it’s shaken families across Texas. Another death, an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico, might also connect to this outbreak, though doctors are still checking.
This isn’t just Texas’s fight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says 607 Americans in 22 states have measles as of April 3, with most tied to outbreaks like this one. New Mexico has 54 cases, Kansas 24, and Oklahoma 10—all linked to the same strain, called D8, which travelers brought in. Even Mexico has cases tied to it, showing how far this can reach.
Measles spreads through the air—think coughs or sneezes—and can hang around for hours. It starts with a fever, cough, and red eyes, then a rash covers the body. Most get better, but it can turn deadly, especially for kids. About one in five unvaccinated cases in Texas needed a hospital stay, some with lung infections or brain swelling. The CDC says one to three out of every 1,000 infected kids could die.
The problem? Not enough vaccinations. In Gaines County, almost one in five kids skips shots, often because Texas lets parents say no for personal beliefs. Experts say 95% of people need to be vaccinated to keep measles away, and Texas is falling short.
“When too many skip the vaccine, we all pay the price,” said Dr. James Carter, a Houston health expert.
The good news: two doses of the MMR vaccine—at age 1 and again before school—stop measles 97% of the time. Texas is offering free shots at clinics and stores, even for babies as young as 6 months in hard-hit areas.
“Vaccines work,” Dr. Lopez said. “They’re our way out.”
Texas’s outbreak is part of a bigger U.S. problem. Measles was gone from America in 2000, but it’s back—607 cases this year already beat 2024’s 285. The CDC fears travel and holidays could spark more trouble. Health leaders are testing, tracing contacts, and pleading for shots, though U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has stayed quiet on pushing vaccines hard, frustrating some.
For now, Texas says: Check if you’re vaccinated. Stay home if you feel sick. Call your doctor first if you need help. This outbreak isn’t slowing down yet, and it’s a wake-up call we can’t ignore.