Measles continue to spread across Texas and New Mexico

by Eric 05/02/2025

written by Eric 05/02/2025

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is continuing to report a measles outbreak, primarily affecting the South Plains Region. Additionally, areas in the Permian Basin, Panhandle, Central Texas, and Northeast Texas are also experiencing outbreaks linked to the epicenter in Gaines County.

At this time, 683 cases have been confirmed since late January. This has increased by 20 since the April 29 update. One percent, or fewer than 10 confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was less than a week ago.

Eighty-nine of the patients have been hospitalized. This number is the total number of people hospitalized throughout the outbreak. It is not the current number of people in the hospital. However, some are in serious condition. Tuesday’s report included 23 additional hospitalizations from earlier in the outbreak. The numbers may increase as DSHS receives records for earlier cases. There have been two fatalities in school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area. The children were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.

Terry County currently has 59 confirmed measles cases, representing 8.6% of all reported cases. Gaines County, the outbreak’s epicenter, is now reporting a total of 396 confirmed cases and accounts for 58% of all cases. Based on the most recent data, DSHS has identified designated outbreak counties with ongoing measles transmission: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum. Additionally, 29 counties in Texas have confirmed cases originating from the Gaines County outbreak.

In New Mexico, the Department of Health (NMDOH) has confirmed that the measles outbreak in Lea County, which began on February 9, has resulted in one death and currently has 61 confirmed cases. The rise in case numbers follows test results from the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory Division and cases identified during investigations of known patients. These additional cases were not reported immediately but were discovered retrospectively, with many patients detected after recovering. Eddy County (Carlsbad, NM) is reporting three cases, Chaves County (Roswell, NM) is reporting one case, and Dona Ana County (Las Cruces, NM) is reporting 2.

Lea County borders Andrews, Gaines, and Yoakum Counties to the east, and Eddy and Chaves Counties to the west. Dona Ana County borders El Paso County, TX to the north and west, where El Paso County is reporting 38 cases.