The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. Since late January, 159 cases have been identified, with 13 new cases reported since last Friday. Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, has seen the largest increase, rising from 98 cases last week to 107 currently. Terry County has reported one additional confirmed case, bringing its total to 22. Dawson, Lubbock, and Yoakum Counties have each reported one more confirmed case as well. Among the patients, 22 have been hospitalized.
Unfortunately, there has been one fatality—a school-aged child living in the outbreak area. This child was unvaccinated and had no known underlying health conditions.
Other Texas counties have confirmed measles cases unrelated to the outbreak in the South Plains and the Panhandle. These counties include Harris (Houston) with two cases, Rockwall (east of Dallas) with one confirmed case, and Travis (Austin) with one confirmed case.
Due to the highly contagious nature of measles, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities. DSHS is collaborating with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
In New Mexico, the Department of Health (NMDOH) is also reporting a measles outbreak in Lea County, which borders Andrews, Gaines, and Yoakum Counties in Texas. As of Tuesday, March 4, 2025, there are no new confirmed cases, but there have been a total of nine cases reported in Lea County, which remains the only affected county in New Mexico. NMDOH has warned that, due to the contagious nature of measles, more cases are likely to arise in Lea County and nearby communities.
Texas Case Count by County
| County | Cases |
|---|---|
| Dallam | 4 |
| Dawson | 9 |
| Ector | 2 |
| Gaines | 107 |
| Lubbock | 3 |
| Lynn | 2 |
| Martin | 3 |
| Terry | 22 |
| Yoakum | 7 |
| Total | 159 |
Age Ranges of Measles Cases
| 0-4 years | 5-17 years | 18+ years | Pending |
|---|---|---|---|
| 53 | 74 | 27 | 5 |
Vaccination Status of Confirmed Cases
| Not Vaccinated | Unknown Status | Vaccinated with at least one dose |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 74 | 5 |
2025 Texas Measles Cases Not Associated with the Outbreak in West Texas
| County | Cases |
|---|---|
| Harris | 2 |
| Rockwall | 1 |
| Travis | 1 |
| Total | 4 |
- Vaccination status is classified as unknown when the case investigation is still ongoing or when the person does not know if they were ever vaccinated.
- The investigations into the cases who are currently classified as vaccinated are ongoing. A dose of MMR is given to unvaccinated people within 72 hours of their exposure to the measles to lessen the severity of the illness if they get sick from their exposure to the virus. We are looking into if any of these cases received their MMR dose after exposure.
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.
To get vaccinated, people can go to their health care provider or a pharmacy. Vaccines are also available through the Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net Providers. Use the maps located on the measles outbreak page to locate a TVFC or ASN provider. Pharmacies can vaccinate people 14 and older without a prescription. Children under 14 need a prescription to get the MMR vaccine at a pharmacy.
