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Measles outbreak in Texas as four dozen cases now confirmed

Craig Nigrelli, Reporter
1:22 min listen

Full story

  • A measles outbreak is spreading in west Texas. Nearly 50 cases have now been confirmed.
  • Most of the cases are children under the age of 18. Symptoms of the virus include a red rash, white spots in the mouth and a high fever.
  • Medical experts say a two-step vaccination is 97% effective when it comes to prevention.

Full Story

A measles outbreak in west Texas has increased to 48 cases, according to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) The department said 13 people with the virus have now been hospitalized.

Where have the cases been traced to specifically?

A vast portion of the cases, 42 out of 48, have been reported in Gaines County. DSHS officials said that the area has one of the highest rates of school-aged children who are unvaccinated or have opted out of at least one required vaccine. Gaines County also has many children who are homeschooled or attend private schools.

Dr. Celine Gounder told CBS Mornings that this particular outbreak can be pinpointed to a very close-knit rural Mennonite community that has low vaccination rates. However, a spokesperson for the department said the church is not the reason that the residents are not vaccinated, it’s because people in the community do not go and get regular health care.

What are the age groups of people contracting the virus?

At least 42 of the cases in Texas were reported to be children under the age of 18, five are 18 and older, one age is unknown. In addition, a teenager in neighboring New Mexico, near Gaines County, Texas, tested positive for measles.

What are the symptoms to be aware of?

Symptoms of measles include a red rash that develops and spreads, along with a high fever that could hit 104 degrees, as well as white soars in the mouth. The infection can move to the lungs or even the brain.

Is vaccination helpful in terms of prevention?

The disease is very contagious and spreads through droplets or airborne when somebody breathes, coughs or sneezes. Medical experts say the vaccine, in two doses, can give somebody 97% protection. It is administered as a combination Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine.

Other states reporting cases in 2025 include Alaska, Georgia, New York and Rhode Island.

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Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left emphasize the urgency of the outbreak being 'the state’s worst in nearly 30 years', creating a tone of alarm.
  • Media outlets in the center highlight the outbreak's primary cause as declining vaccination rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a causative link.
  • Media outlets on the right emphasize the potential for more cases emerging, focusing on the nature of measles as being highly contagious.

Report an issue with this comparison

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

82 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • A measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has reached 48 cases, linked to low vaccination rates, with infections expected to rise, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • All 48 infected individuals were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, with 13 patients hospitalized, as confirmed by health officials.
  • Vaccination rates in Gaines County are low, with only 82% of kindergartners up to date, well below the 95% required for herd immunity, contributing to the outbreak, according to DSHS.
  • Health officials stress the importance of vaccination, as noted by Zach Holbrooks from the South Plains Public Health District.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

  • Nearly 50 cases of measles have been reported in Texas, with 13 individuals hospitalized due to severe symptoms, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • All confirmed cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, highlighting declining vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Federal health officials state that vaccination coverage among kindergarteners dropped below 93% during the 2023–24 school year, remaining under the federal target of 95%.
  • Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University noted that the rise in cases is expected due to low vaccination rates in certain areas.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Right

  • An outbreak of measles in Texas has risen to 48 cases, marking the state's worst outbreak in nearly 30 years, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Most patients were school-aged children, primarily unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status, and reports indicate over a dozen people have been hospitalized.
  • Health officials warned of likely additional cases due to measles's highly contagious nature, with symptoms including high fever and cough appearing within one to two weeks.
  • Vaccination rates have reportedly declined in recent years in Gaines County, where vaccination exemptions have been often granted on religious grounds.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

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1:22 min listen

Full story

  • A measles outbreak is spreading in west Texas. Nearly 50 cases have now been confirmed.
  • Most of the cases are children under the age of 18. Symptoms of the virus include a red rash, white spots in the mouth and a high fever.
  • Medical experts say a two-step vaccination is 97% effective when it comes to prevention.

Full Story

A measles outbreak in west Texas has increased to 48 cases, according to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) The department said 13 people with the virus have now been hospitalized.

Where have the cases been traced to specifically?

A vast portion of the cases, 42 out of 48, have been reported in Gaines County. DSHS officials said that the area has one of the highest rates of school-aged children who are unvaccinated or have opted out of at least one required vaccine. Gaines County also has many children who are homeschooled or attend private schools.

Dr. Celine Gounder told CBS Mornings that this particular outbreak can be pinpointed to a very close-knit rural Mennonite community that has low vaccination rates. However, a spokesperson for the department said the church is not the reason that the residents are not vaccinated, it’s because people in the community do not go and get regular health care.

What are the age groups of people contracting the virus?

At least 42 of the cases in Texas were reported to be children under the age of 18, five are 18 and older, one age is unknown. In addition, a teenager in neighboring New Mexico, near Gaines County, Texas, tested positive for measles.

What are the symptoms to be aware of?

Symptoms of measles include a red rash that develops and spreads, along with a high fever that could hit 104 degrees, as well as white soars in the mouth. The infection can move to the lungs or even the brain.

Is vaccination helpful in terms of prevention?

The disease is very contagious and spreads through droplets or airborne when somebody breathes, coughs or sneezes. Medical experts say the vaccine, in two doses, can give somebody 97% protection. It is administered as a combination Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccine.

Other states reporting cases in 2025 include Alaska, Georgia, New York and Rhode Island.

Related Stories

Tags: ,
Read Transcript

Bias comparison

  • Media outlets on the left emphasize the urgency of the outbreak being 'the state’s worst in nearly 30 years', creating a tone of alarm.
  • Media outlets in the center highlight the outbreak's primary cause as declining vaccination rates due to the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting a causative link.
  • Media outlets on the right emphasize the potential for more cases emerging, focusing on the nature of measles as being highly contagious.

Report an issue with this comparison

Media landscape

Click on bars to see headlines

82 total sources

Key points from the Left

  • A measles outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has reached 48 cases, linked to low vaccination rates, with infections expected to rise, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • All 48 infected individuals were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, with 13 patients hospitalized, as confirmed by health officials.
  • Vaccination rates in Gaines County are low, with only 82% of kindergartners up to date, well below the 95% required for herd immunity, contributing to the outbreak, according to DSHS.
  • Health officials stress the importance of vaccination, as noted by Zach Holbrooks from the South Plains Public Health District.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Center

  • Nearly 50 cases of measles have been reported in Texas, with 13 individuals hospitalized due to severe symptoms, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • All confirmed cases involve individuals who are either unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, highlighting declining vaccination rates since the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Federal health officials state that vaccination coverage among kindergarteners dropped below 93% during the 2023–24 school year, remaining under the federal target of 95%.
  • Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University noted that the rise in cases is expected due to low vaccination rates in certain areas.

Report an issue with this summary

Key points from the Right

  • An outbreak of measles in Texas has risen to 48 cases, marking the state's worst outbreak in nearly 30 years, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
  • Most patients were school-aged children, primarily unvaccinated or with unknown vaccination status, and reports indicate over a dozen people have been hospitalized.
  • Health officials warned of likely additional cases due to measles's highly contagious nature, with symptoms including high fever and cough appearing within one to two weeks.
  • Vaccination rates have reportedly declined in recent years in Gaines County, where vaccination exemptions have been often granted on religious grounds.

Report an issue with this summary

Other (sources without bias rating):

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