Measles Outbreak – April 18, 2025
The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles primarily in West Texas.
- At this time, 597 cases have been confirmed since late January. This is an increase of 36 since the April 15 update.
- Four percent, or fewer than 30 of the confirmed cases, are estimated to be actively infectious since their rash onset date was less than a week ago.
- Individuals are infectious four days prior to and four days after rash onset.
Sixty-two of the patients have been hospitalized. This number is the total number of people hospitalized over the course of the outbreak. It is not the current number of people in the hospital.
There have been two fatalities in school-aged children who lived in the outbreak area. The children were not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.
Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities.
Based on the most recent data, DSHS has identified designated outbreak counties with ongoing measles transmission: Cochran, Dallam, Dawson, Gaines, Garza, Lynn, Lamar, Lubbock, Terry and Yoakum.
DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.
We will post updates on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Measles Prevention
The best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.
People who live in or visit the counties in the outbreak counties listed above should follow the outbreak vaccination recommendations.
To get vaccinated, people can go to their health care provider or a pharmacy. Vaccines are also available through the Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net Providers. Use the maps located on the measles outbreak page to locate a TVFC or ASN provider. Pharmacies can vaccinate people 14 and older without a prescription. Children under 14 need a prescription to get the MMR vaccine at a pharmacy.
Additional information for the public and health care providers is available at the links below:
DSHS News Release – Jan. 30 Announcing Cases in Gaines County
DSHS News Release – Feb. 25 Outbreak Update
DSHS News Release – Feb. 26 Texas Announces First Death in Measles Outbreak
DSHS News Release – April 6 Texas Announces Second Death in Measles Outbreak
DSHS Health Alert – Feb. 5 Gaines County Outbreak
DSHS Health Alert – Feb. 24 Measles Exposures in South & Central Texas
DSHS Health Alert – March 6 Measles Outbreak Case Definition
DSHS Health Alert – April 7 Texas 2025 Measles Outbreak – Expanded Outbreak Counties
Data
Measles (Rubeola) Data | Texas DSHS
Other 2025 Texas Measles Cases
| County | Cases |
|---|---|
| Brazoria | 1 |
| Fort Bend | 2 |
| Harris | 4* |
| Rockwall | 2 |
| Travis | 1 |
| Upshur | 15** |
| Total | 25 |
* One of these cases had symptom onset in 2024
** Two of these cases are Upshur County residents. DSHS is gathering additional information to determine the residency status of the rest of the cases and if these cases are related to the West Texas outbreak.