A measles outbreak in rural West Texas has left health officials scrambling to contain the virus as cases continue to climb. What began as a single case in a Midland daycare has now spread to over two dozen people across multiple counties, sparking concerns over vaccination rates and public safety.
Many of those infected were unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated. Health officials continue to urge residents to check their immunization records and get vaccinated if necessary. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University, emphasized the importance of routine vaccinations in preventing outbreaks. “If you have been vaccinated with two doses of vaccine as per routine, you have a 95-plus percent chance of being completely protected throughout your life,” Schaffner says.
Schools in affected areas have begun sending out urgent notices to parents, advising them to ensure their children’s vaccinations are up to date. Health officials are also working to identify and notify anyone who may have been exposed, particularly in daycare centers, schools, and healthcare facilities.
With measles being one of the most contagious diseases in the world, experts warn that the outbreak could continue to spread if vaccination rates remain low.
Newly confirmed Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has downplayed the crisis in West Texas, citing that the United States has measles outbreaks and deaths regularly. This is not the case. There has not been a death due to measles in the United States in over a decade, a trend that occurred because of the increasing rates of vaccination among American citizens. With a newer trend against vaccinations, fueled by a conspiracy theory that they cause autism, we are seeing a rise in infectious diseases that at one point were near complete eradication.
As of February 26, 2025, there have been 133 reported cases of measles in Texas and New Mexico, with one fatality being from an unvaccinated student. With a decline in the popularity of vaccines, it is expected that we will see more outbreaks like this occur in communities that resist vaccination, which could lead to catastrophic levels of death we have not seen outbreaks of measles and polio ravaged the nation prior to the adoption of the vaccines.
