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A county in West Texas is experiencing a major measles outbreak, with “no end in sight,” according to a report by NBC News on Friday. In nine days, the number of cases has gone from 6 to 49, and it’s still spreading.
The NBC report states: On Friday, the number of confirmed cases rose to 49, up from 24 earlier in the week, the state health department said. The majority of those cases are in Gaines County, which borders New Mexico.
Most cases are in school-age kids, and 13 have been hospitalized. All are unvaccinated against measles, which is one of the most contagious viruses in the world.
The latest measles case count likely represents a fraction of the true number of infections. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people in West Texas are infected but untested, and therefore not part of the state’s official tally so far.
Just 9 days earlier, on Feb. 5, the Texas Department of State Health Services said in a press release that Gaines County was experiencing a measles outbreak, with at least 6 unvaccinated school-aged children contracting the disease over a two-week period.
The press release stated:
In January 2025, the Houston Health Department confirmed two cases of measles associated with international travel in unvaccinated Harris County residents. Those were the first Texas measles cases since 2023 and prompted a DSHS health alert on January 23.
On January 29, the South Plains Public Health District notified the public of a measles case in a Gaines County child. As of now, a total of six cases have been identified, all among unvaccinated school-aged children who are residents of Gaines County. There is no suspected link between the Gaines County outbreak and the Harris County cases.
When you have that large an epidemic of measles 200-300 and admissions to hospitals and pediatric ICUs mount, we know what can happen. Thinking of my pediatric colleagues in rural and children’s hospitals in the Texas panhandle this afternoon and evening https://t.co/fBkpzF0R16 pic.twitter.com/vpmAEBameJ
— Prof Peter Hotez MD PhD (@PeterHotez) February 15, 2025
NBC News: “In rural West Texas, a measles outbreak grows with no end in sight — At least 49 cases have been confirmed. Health officials — who are scrambling to get a handle on the vaccine-preventable outbreak — suspect 200 to 300 people may be infected.”https://t.co/p2EZpl3Qbx
— Scott Gottlieb, MD 🇺🇸 (@ScottGottliebMD) February 14, 2025
A total of 48 measles cases have been reported in West Texas, with the outbreak centered in Gaines County. Thirteen people have been hospitalized. Health officials say all of those infected, most of them children and teens. @Morganorwood reports. pic.twitter.com/7W9HjsHs8J
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) February 16, 2025
The measles outbreak in West Texas has doubled this week to at least 48 confirmed cases, with 13 hospitalizations. Officials say most of the cases are in school-aged children. pic.twitter.com/DCxnJqYP1S
— CBS Evening News (@CBSEveningNews) February 15, 2025
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