A measles outbreak continues in the South Plains region of Texas. (Image credit: koto_feja via Getty Images)
An ongoing measles outbreak in Texas has hospitalized 18 people and infected 106 others, state officials say. One death was confirmed on Feb. 26 by the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS). On Feb. 26, RFK Jr. incorrectly reported that two deaths had been reported, but at that point, only an unvaccinated child in Texas had died.
The death was an unvaccinated schoolchild hospitalized in Lubbock last week, the first measles-related death in the U.S. since 2015.
As of Feb. 25, there have been 124 cases of measles reported in the South Plains region of northwest Texas since late January, according to a statement from DSHS. Five cases have occurred in people who have been vaccinated against the disease, while the rest have affected people who have not been vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.
Most of the cases — more than 100 — are people under the age of 17. The South Plains region covers about two dozen counties, with Gaines and Terry counties the hardest hit, with 80 and 21 cases, respectively.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and surrounding communities,” DSHS said in a statement. “DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.”
Elsewhere in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has officially confirmed 93 cases of measles in eight states in 2025. Those cases occurred in Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas. The CDC said it will update that count every Friday starting Feb. 21, which could explain the possible discrepancy in the numbers from DSHS.
Experts say the rise in measles cases in Texas is likely due to low vaccination rates — nearly 18% of school-age children in Gaines County, for example, are exempt from at least one vaccine, NBC News reported. The rapid spread of the disease may also be exacerbated by delays in diagnosis, as symptoms can take up to two weeks to appear after exposure to the virus, and because the disease is extremely contagious.
Here's what you need to know about measles, how it's spread, and how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from the disease.
What is measles and how is it spread?
Measles is a potentially fatal respiratory infection caused by a virus known as Measles morbillivirus, or simply “measles virus.” The disease affects only humans and does not infect animals.
Measles is spread from one person to another through the air, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
“[Measles] is probably one of the most contagious viruses that has ever existed,” Dr. Ashley Stevens, an associate professor and pediatrician at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York City, told Live Science.
Once released into the air, droplets containing the measles virus can remain in the air for up to two hours. Anyone nearby who is not immune to the virus has a 90% chance of becoming infected if they inhale the droplets. The basic reproduction number for measles—an estimate of the average number of susceptible people an infected person can transmit the disease to—is usually given as 12 to 18. By comparison, estimates for seasonal flu range from 1 to 2.
What are the symptoms of measles and how is it treated?
Symptoms of measles typically appear within 7 to 14 days of exposure to the virus. Common initial symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
After a few days, the characteristic red rash associated with measles appears, usually starting on the scalp and then spreading over the entire body. The rash begins as flat red spots and may then develop small lumps
Sourse: www.livescience.com
