Texas measles outbreak declared over

Texas health officials say the measles outbreak is over after more than 42 days with no new cases, even as nationwide infections remain a concern.

Texas declares measles outbreak over

Texas health officials said the measles outbreak that sickened 762 people since late January is over after more than 42 days with no new cases. The last Texas outbreak case was on July 1, and two children died earlier in the year. About 100 people were hospitalized during the outbreak. Cases were linked to outbreaks in Canada and Mexico and then spread to other states.

West Texas became the outbreak’s epicenter, with transmission concentrated in undervaccinated Mennonite communities in Gaines County. State officials will continue monitoring for new cases. Testing, vaccination, and education helped end the outbreak. Nationwide, measles cases are up with 1,356 reported as of Aug. 5, and vaccination rates have fallen as more parents seek exemptions from school requirements. Before this year, many Texas doctors had rarely seen a measles case because the disease had become so uncommon.

The end of the Texas outbreak is a relief, but it is not a victory lap. It shows how measles remains a vulnerability when vaccination rates dip and cross-border connections keep the virus moving. The national picture highlights a broader trend where outbreaks reappear even in places that once believed they were protected.

Public health work is a long game: constant testing, accurate data, patient education, and steady funding. The focus on the two deaths and the one hundred hospitalizations should remind readers that protecting children requires ongoing effort, not a single flare of concern. The next health threat will come, and the best defense is keeping vaccination coverage high and communities informed.

Highlights

Public health work continues, and vigilance remains the best defense against the next outbreak.