Health

Measles Outbreak: Texas, New Mexico Cases Jump 20% In 3 Days

MAR 29 2025·Updated MAR 31 2025

Story

Above: A tray of the MMR vaccine at a vaccine clinic put on by Lubbock Public Health Department on March 1, 2025 in Lubbock, Texas. Image credit: Jan Sonnenmair/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images

The Facts

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of Thursday, there were 483 confirmed measles cases across 20 U.S. jurisdictions, with 97% of cases occurring in unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
Guardian
CDC
Meanwhile, Texas and New Mexico health departments said Friday that measles cases in their states jumped 20% in the last three days, with Texas reporting 400 cases and New Mexico documenting 44 cases.
Reuters
ap
The outbreak has primarily affected children and teenagers, with those aged 5-17 accounting for 164 cases and children under 4 comprising 131 cases, resulting in at least 41 hospitalizations in Texas alone.
ABC News
USA Today
Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, has a vaccination rate of 82%, below the 95% threshold needed for effective community protection. Vaccine exemptions have risen from 5% to 17.5% over the past decade.
ABC News
Time
The virus has spread beyond initial outbreak areas, with Kansas reporting 23 cases linked to Texas and New Mexico, while Oklahoma has confirmed multiple probable cases connected to the outbreak.
Reuters
WHO
CBS News
Health officials have observed increased demand for MMR vaccines, with New Mexico administering 11,600 doses between February and March, compared to 6,500 during the same period last year.
Breitbart
BBC News
The Washington Post

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

It's an outrage that the CDC took the decision not to release findings about the risks associated with vaccine hesitancy to the public. The organization has failed in it's fundamental responsibility to encourage as many Americans as possible to receive measles vaccines, leaving the unvaccinated — as well as those living in areas with low rates of uptake — at risk of serious medical complications. The impact of critics like Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is clearly being felt.

ProPublica

Narrative B

The CDC's decision not to reveal it's assessment doesn't necessarily reflect a move away from evidenced and scientifically-backed public health policy. Simply telling the public what to do, especially in a post-pandemic age of social media disinformation, doesn't guarantee positive action. With trust in government reaching historic lows, agencies must reevaluate their public health strategies, as restoring faith in established medical practice will be crucial to the long-term welfare of the American people.

Psychology Today