The West Texas Measles Outbreak Has Ended

A large measles epidemic in Texas which affected 762 people has now ended, according to an announcement on Monday by Texas Department of State Health Services. The agency claims that it has been more than 42 days that a new case was reported in one of the counties who previously showed evidence of current transmission.

The epidemic has contributed to the worst year for measles in the United States in more than 30 years. As of August 5, the last update of centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a total of 1,356 cases of confirmed measles were reported across the country this year. By way of comparison, there were only 285 cases of measles in 2024.

The Texas epidemic began in January in a rural mennonite community with low vaccination rates. More than two -thirds of the reported cases of the state were in children and two children in Texas died of the virus. Both were not vaccinated and had no known underlying condition. During the epidemic, a total of 99 people were hospitalized, representing 13% of cases.

Measles is a very contagious respiratory disease which can temporarily weaken the immune system, leaving individuals vulnerable to secondary infections such as pneumonia. In rare cases, this can also cause brain swelling and long -term neurological damage. It can also cause complications of pregnancy, such as premature birth and babies with low birth weight. The best way to prevent disease is the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR). One dose of the vaccine is 93% effective against measles while two doses are 97% effective.

An epidemic of measles is envisaged after 42 days if no new cases is discovered because it is double the period of maximum incubation of the disease – the longest duration can take between a person is exposed to the virus and when it develops symptoms.

The CDC defines an epidemic as three or more linked cases. The epidemic of western Texas has been linked to cases in neighboring states, Mexico and Canada.

While the Texas epidemic is over, cases of measles are still reported elsewhere in the country. According to the CDC, 40 other states reported cases, and a total of 32 American epidemics were reported in 2025, against 16 epidemics in 2024.

The in progress epidemics endanger the state of elimination of the country’s measles. The designation means that there is no inner propagation during measles for more than 12 months. The United States has reached this status in 2000 after years of increasing vaccination rates, but almost lost it in 2019, when measles cases swept away undervacinated Orthodox communities in New York for a large part of the year.

While vaccination rates continue to drop in the United States, public health researchers warn that the epidemics of measles and other diseases are likely. A recent article evaluated by peers revealed that at current vaccination rates in the state level, measles could restore and become endemic in the next two decades.