Health authorities have reported an expanding outbreak of measles in western Texas, with a new confirmed case across state lines in New Mexico. The Texas Department of State Health Services has identified 24 measles cases within the last two weeks, with Gaines County in West Texas having one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state.
Neighboring Lea County, New Mexico, has also been affected, as an unvaccinated teenager tested positive for measles. There is concern about potential exposure to more individuals in Lovington at a hospital emergency room and a sixth-grade school gymnasium.
The New Mexico Department of Health clarified that the infected youth had no recent travel or known exposure to cases from the Texas outbreak. In Texas, nine measles patients have required hospitalization, all of whom were unvaccinated residents of Gaines County.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that can linger in the air for up to two hours, with up to 90% of susceptible individuals contracting the virus upon exposure. Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, the U.S. used to see millions of cases annually, but now the numbers are typically under 200 in a normal year.
Local health officials in Gaines County have taken proactive measures by setting up a drive-through vaccination clinic and offering screening services to residents. Similarly, the New Mexico Department of Health has announced no-appointment vaccination clinics in Hobbs, starting next week.
In 2024, the U.S. experienced a rise in measles cases, including an outbreak in Chicago that affected over 60 individuals. Texas law permits children to obtain exemptions from school vaccines based on reasons of conscience, such as religious beliefs. The percentage of children with exemptions has increased over the past decade, from 0.76% in 2014 to 2.32% last year, according to data from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
