Health
Texas Declares End to Measles Outbreak
Health Points
- Texas has ended its measles outbreak after at least 762 people were affected.
- No new cases have been reported in over 42 days, which signals the official end of an outbreak.
- Experts continue to stress the importance of vaccination to prevent future cases.
Texas health officials announced the measles outbreak in West Texas is officially over, after more than six weeks passed without new cases. The outbreak, which began at the end of January, resulted in over 760 people falling ill and the loss of two unvaccinated children.
The state health department explained that 42 days without a new case is twice the maximum incubation period for measles, meaning the virus is unlikely to be spreading locally. Children who haven’t received the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine made up most of the reported cases in this outbreak.
“As far as we can tell based on available data, the outbreak has really ended in Texas,”
says Amy Edwards, MD, an infectious disease expert at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.
Measles infections, however, continue in neighboring states like New Mexico, which recently reported new cases traced to the same region. Other states such as New Jersey and Colorado have also seen measles cases in people who were not vaccinated.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports more than 1,300 confirmed measles cases nationwide so far this year—a significant number compared to previous decades.
Internationally, countries like Israel are also experiencing increases in measles cases, primarily among unvaccinated children.
“Still, I would expect outbreaks like this to happen with increasing frequency in the future, as more parents may opt to forgo childhood vaccination,”
says Dr. Edwards.
Experts urge the public to maintain high immunization rates, especially as children return to school. Vaccines remain the most effective way to protect against measles and prevent future outbreaks.
“The vaccine is brilliantly effective,”
says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “If you get the appropriate two doses, it can give you lifetime protection. It’s also been used by millions of people around the globe, proving to be extremely safe.”
This milestone in Texas highlights the power of vaccination programs to protect our communities. Stay up to date with recommended vaccinations and encourage loved ones to do the same.