The recent measles outbreak in Texas is showing tentative signs of slowing down. However, health officials are urging vigilance as other states report increasing cases. The United States is grappling with persistently high rates of measles, a situation exacerbated by declining vaccination rates. In Lubbock, Texas, a few days have passed without any new positive tests, and the local children's hospital has not admitted any new measles cases. Katherine Wells, the director of Lubbock Public Health, expressed cautious optimism, stating, “We’re really cautiously optimistic.”
To declare an outbreak over, a community must go 42 days without any new cases, meaning Lubbock is not entirely in the clear yet. According to Anthony Maresso, a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine, analyses of wastewater suggest that infections may be declining in both El Paso and Lubbock. “But this doesn’t mean the danger has passed,” Maresso warned. Wells echoed this sentiment, highlighting ongoing cases in El Paso and other central U.S. states. “It really just takes one person in a car who’s infectious to introduce it into another community,” she cautioned.
As of Friday, Texas reported six new measles cases, bringing the total for the year to 728. Alarmingly, 94 individuals have been hospitalized due to the outbreak, and tragically, two school-aged children have died. The outbreak has also spread beyond Texas borders, with New Mexico reporting 76 cases and confirming that an adult death in March was linked to measles. Cases have also been documented in Kansas and Oklahoma, contributing to a national total of 1,024 confirmed measles cases in the U.S. This figure marks 2025 as one of the worst years for measles in the U.S. since the virus was declared eliminated in 2000.
The decline in cases in west Texas may be attributed to effective vaccination campaigns and the fact that many unvaccinated individuals have already contracted the virus. While children have accounted for a significant portion of cases, approximately two-thirds of the cases in El Paso are among adults. Public health officials are now recommending that anyone unsure of their vaccination status in affected areas should seek a measles booster shot.
Notably, misinformation about the measles vaccine has been propagated by figures such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Kennedy has made several contentious claims regarding the vaccine's safety, which have been met with criticism from public health officials. Senator Chris Murphy challenged Kennedy during a recent budget hearing, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public confidence in vaccines.
Experts stress that communities with vaccination rates below the critical 95% threshold for herd immunity should initiate vaccination campaigns immediately to prevent future outbreaks. “If we had vaccine coverage above 95%, we would not see these outbreaks. It’s that effective,” Maresso stated. Wells added that many communities across the U.S. are currently facing low vaccination rates, making them vulnerable to outbreaks.
With summer approaching, the potential for increased travel poses a risk of importing measles into at-risk communities. Wells noted, “We see lots of movement in the summer, with many people traveling internationally to places that might have endemic measles.” This emphasizes the need for communities to remain vigilant.
Monitoring wastewater has emerged as an effective strategy for early detection of potential outbreaks, particularly in areas with low vaccination rates. This initiative in Texas was funded by the state legislature through the Texas Epidemic Public Health Institute (TEPHI), which was established during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maresso highlighted the importance of wastewater monitoring, stating, “If we are seeing the earliest stages of an outbreak, it gives us a lead time to warn public health officials.”
Local leaders must prepare for potential measles outbreaks by educating healthcare providers, schools, and daycares about the disease and its symptoms. Wells emphasized that public health officials need to understand their testing capabilities and logistics for transporting specimens to laboratories, ensuring readiness for any future outbreaks.
However, funding for these critical public health initiatives remains a concern. Wells pointed out that public health departments often operate on limited budgets, and recent federal funding cuts have made it increasingly difficult to track health crises effectively. “I’m concerned. It’s so important for us to have local public health departments that can respond to things like measles or whatever the next outbreak is,” she concluded.
