Measles is resurging in the U.S., with 58 cases reported in rural West Texas and eight in eastern New Mexico. Texas officials note this is the largest outbreak in nearly 30 years, primarily affecting Gaines County’s undervaccinated Mennonite community. New Mexico cases are near the Texas border. Earlier this month, the CDC reported 14 measles cases nationwide. Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus, can be severe or fatal for children. It spreads easily, with up to 90% of susceptible individuals contracting it if exposed. Vaccination rates have declined due to misinformation linking the measles vaccine to autism, a claim debunked by experts. The COVID-19 pandemic further disrupted vaccinations, with 61 million fewer measles vaccine doses distributed from 2020 to 2022. Before the MMR vaccine’s introduction in 1963, the U.S. saw 3-4 million cases annually. Today, fewer than 200 cases occur yearly, but outbreaks persist in undervaccinated areas. The CDC recommends the first dose at 12-15 months and a second at 4-6 years.
66 measles cases reported in US states of Texas, New Mexico
