New Measles Outbreak Sparks Panic in Texas and New Mexico

Health concerns are growing in the United States as a measles outbreak expands in Texas and spreads to New Mexico, prompting authorities to take urgent measures to contain the infection.

According to the Texas Department of Health Services, 24 confirmed measles cases have been reported in the past two weeks, most of them in Gaines County, an area with a high rate of vaccination exemptions. In a concerning development, Lea County in New Mexico reported a case of infection in an unvaccinated teenager, increasing the risk of virus transmission within the state.

The New Mexico Department of Health stated that the infected individual had not recently traveled and had no known direct contact with cases in Texas, raising questions about the virus’s transmission routes. Authorities also warned that other individuals might have been exposed to measles at an emergency room in a hospital and a gym in Lovington.

Amid this outbreak, nine patients have been hospitalized in Texas, all of whom were unvaccinated. To curb the spread, health officials in Gaines County have launched a mobile vaccination clinic, while New Mexico announced that no-appointment vaccination centers will be available in Hobbs starting next week.

Measles is one of the most contagious viruses, capable of lingering in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves the area. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 90% of unvaccinated individuals are at risk of contracting the virus upon exposure.

Texas allows vaccination exemptions for personal and religious beliefs, contributing to a rise in the number of unvaccinated individuals. According to state health department data, the exemption rate among children increased from 0.76% in 2014 to 2.32% in 2024.

This outbreak comes as the United States saw a significant rise in measles cases last year, with Chicago alone reporting more than 60 infections, underscoring the urgent need to strengthen vaccination campaigns to curb the virus’s spread.