A measles outbreak has been reported in Gaines County, West Texas, with 15 confirmed cases, mostly affecting school-aged children. The county has one of the highest rates of vaccine exemptions in the state, contributing to the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Zach Holbrooks, Director of the South Plains Public Health District, stated that the first two cases were reported in late January. These children had visited a doctor in Lubbock before being diagnosed with measles. Health officials believe some of the cases are connected to private religious schools in the area, but the investigation is ongoing.
While not all cases are linked, health teams are investigating potential exposure sites and the background of each case. To combat the spread of the virus, local health authorities set up a drive-through vaccination clinic last week and are offering screening services to residents.
Measles cases have increased across the U.S. in 2024, with notable outbreaks, including one in Chicago that affected over 60 people. In metro Atlanta, a measles case recently spread to two unvaccinated family members.
Texas law allows parents to exempt their children from vaccines for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. Over the last decade, the number of children with vaccine exemptions has risen from 0.76% in 2014 to 2.32% in 2023, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Gaines County has one of the highest exemption rates in the state, with nearly 14% of school-aged children opting out of at least one required vaccine in the 2023-24 school year. This rate is more than five times the state average of 2.32% and exceeds the national rate of 3.3%.
The actual number of unvaccinated children in the county may be higher since many children are homeschooled and their data is not reported, according to Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Lara Anton.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is administered in two doses: the first at 12 to 15 months, and the second between ages 4 and 6. While required for entry into most U.S. public schools, vaccination rates have dropped nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, most states now fall below the 95% vaccination threshold needed to protect communities from outbreaks. With anti-vaccine sentiment growing, particularly in light of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s nomination for Secretary of Health and Human Services, proposed changes to vaccine requirements are being discussed across the country.
One of the early measles cases from Gaines County traveled to New Mexico while still infectious, though no new infections have been reported in the neighboring state.
In early January, two measles cases were also reported in the Houston area, but health officials have confirmed that the West Texas cases are unrelated.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can survive in the air for up to two hours. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 90% of people who are not immune will contract the virus if exposed. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, measles caused an estimated 3 to 4 million cases annually in the U.S. Today, in a typical year, fewer than 200 cases are reported.
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