The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is currently reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains, Permian Basin, and Northeast Texas regions. As of April 8, 2025, there have been 505 confirmed cases identified since late January, an increase from 481 cases reported on April 4, 2025. Fifty-seven patients have been hospitalized, with some in serious condition. Additionally, there have been two fatalities among school-aged children living in the outbreak area. Both children were unvaccinated and did not have any known underlying health conditions.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has reported a second measles-related death in the ongoing outbreak centered in the South Plains region of the state. The school-aged child, who had tested positive for measles, was hospitalized in Lubbock and passed away on Thursday due to what the doctors described as measles pulmonary failure. The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying health conditions. DSHS is collaborating with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
On Sunday, April 6th, U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Gaines County to support the family of the second school-aged child who died from complications of measles. He stated he was working to help “control the outbreak.”
Kennedy mentioned in a social media post that he went to Gaines County to comfort the families who have lost two young children; however, he did not attend the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s news conference held in Seminole on Sunday afternoon.
Terry County currently has 46 confirmed measles cases, an increase of three since Friday, April 4, 2025. This represents 9.1% of all reported cases. Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, has seen an increase of 13 cases since April 4 and is now reporting a total of 328 confirmed cases, which is a rise of 35 since Tuesday. This accounts for 65.0% of all cases.
Additionally, Cochran County has reported one new case, bringing its total to 10. Hale County has two additional cases, raising its total to five. Lubbock County’s case count has risen by three, totaling 36 cases. New cases have also been reported in Borden and Randall counties, with each county having one confirmed case.
The following counties have not reported any increases in cases since April 4, 2025: Dawson County with 20 cases, Ector County with eight, Hockley County with three, Lamar County (Paris, TX) with 11, Lynn County with two, and Yoakum County with 17. Andrews, Brown, Erath (Stephenville), Lamb, and Midland counties each have one confirmed case, but their numbers have not changed. Garza County has two confirmed cases, and Martin County has three, with neither reporting an increase. Dallam County has seven confirmed cases, and its number has also remained the same. In total, 21 counties are affected by the outbreak originating in Gaines County.
According to the latest data, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has identified counties with ongoing measles outbreaks: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum.
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 53 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 they had already recovered. Eddy County (Carlsbad, NM) continues to report two cases, and now Chaves County (Roswell, NM) has also reported cases.
Lea County borders Andrews, Gaines, and Yoakum Counties to the east, and Eddy and Chaves Counties to the west.
Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe complications for anyone who is not protected against the virus. During a measles outbreak, approximately one in five children who contract the illness will require hospitalization, and one in 20 may develop pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can result in brain swelling and death. It can also lead to pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and low birth weight in infants.
Texas Outbreak Case Count by County
Age Ranges of Outbreak Measles Cases
New Mexico Case Count by County
Background:
Measles can be transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. People who are infected will begin to have symptoms within a week or two after being exposed. Early symptoms include high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes. A few days later, the telltale rash breaks out as flat, red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and trunk to the rest of the body. A person is contagious about four days before the rash appears to four days after. People who could have measles should stay home during that period.
People who think they have measles or may have been exposed to measles should isolate themselves and call their health care provider before arriving to be tested. It is important to let the provider know that the patient may have measles and to get instructions on how to come to the office for diagnosis without exposing other people to the virus.
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a measles-containing vaccine, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella or MMR vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine prevent more than 97 percent of measles infections. A small number of vaccinated people can occasionally develop measles. In these cases, the symptoms are generally milder, and they are less likely to spread the disease to other people. DSHS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend children receive one dose of MMR at 12 to 15 months of age and another at 4 to 6 years. Children too young to be vaccinated are more likely to have severe complications if they get infected with the measles virus. However, each MMR dose lowers the risk of infection and the severity of illness if infected.
As part of the ongoing measles outbreak response, DSHS is updating the list of counties currently included in the designated outbreak area. It now includes Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum counties.
The measles outbreak in Texas has grown to include a total of at least 505 cases since January. Based on the most recent epidemiological information, DSHS is updating the list of counties included in the designated outbreak area. It now includes ten counties: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry, and Yoakum. These counties have ongoing transmission of measles, and 95 percent of the confirmed cases have been in these counties as of April 8th.
Vaccination Recommendations
Vaccination with the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine remains the best protection against measles. DSHS has issued the following MMR vaccine recommendations for persons who live in or visit counties in the designated outbreak area:
Infants
- Immediately administer an early dose of measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccinefor infants aged 6-11 months.
Children
- Administer a second dose of MMR vaccine for preschool-aged children aged 1 to 4 years who received one prior dose.
- Children at least one year of age with no documentation of vaccination history should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
Adults
- Administer a second dose ofMMR vaccine for adultswho received one prior dose.
- Adults with no documentation of vaccination history should receive two doses at least 28 days apart.
Visit the DSHS measles outbreak page for printable MMR vaccine recommendations.
Individuals exposed to measles regardless of county of residence should be offered MMR vaccine as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance: Prevention of Measles, Rubella, Congenital Rubella Syndrome, and Mumps, 2013.
Increasing MMR coverage is a statewide priority. DSHS encourages all eligible individuals to be up to date on MMR vaccination to limit and prevent measles outbreaks.
DSHS continues to evaluate the area included in the designated outbreak area and will update it accordingly.
