Texas Measles Outbreak Cases Double: Under Investigation

At least 48 cases of measles have been confirmed in the South Plains region of Texas, doubling within a week. Health officials warn the outbreak is likely to spread further, raising concerns about vaccination status and public health risks.

Key Facts:

48 confirmed cases of measles have been reported in Texas, with numbers increasing rapidly.
More than a dozen hospitalizations have occurred, according to state health officials.
The outbreak primarily affects school-aged children in Gaines County but has spread to surrounding areas.
All cases involved unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.
Measles was declared “eliminated” in the U.S. in 2000, yet cases are resurging.

The Rest of The Story:

Texas health officials are closely monitoring a growing measles outbreak, which has spread beyond Gaines County into Lynn, Terry, and Yoakum counties.

Given measles’ highly contagious nature, officials expect more cases to emerge.

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has urged residents to be vigilant and seek medical attention if they develop symptoms, which include fever, cough, and a distinct rash.

The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours, making public exposure a serious risk.

Authorities stress that the best defense is vaccination, yet all confirmed cases so far involve individuals who were either unvaccinated or had unknown immunization status.

The resurgence of measles, a disease once considered eradicated in the U.S., has reignited debate over public health policies and border security.

🚨🇺🇸 TEXAS MEASLES OUTBREAK SPREADS—24 CASES CONFIRMED

A measles outbreak in Gaines County, TX, has infected 24 people, including 22 children and 2 adults.

None were vaccinated.

Nine people have been hospitalized, and health officials warn more cases are likely since measles… https://t.co/p7CO6RFf33 pic.twitter.com/9QLMolvs4W

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) February 13, 2025

Commentary:

The return of measles after being declared eliminated for over two decades is a troubling development—especially in a border state like Texas, where nearly half of the 11 million illegal border crossings over the last four years have taken place.

The Biden administration’s failure to secure the border has overwhelmed Texas communities, and instead of offering support, the federal government provided bus and plane rides to relocate migrants across the country.

Governor Greg Abbott repeatedly pleaded with the Biden administration for federal intervention, but his calls went unanswered. Meanwhile, Texas was left to manage the fallout of unchecked migration, which includes public health risks like this measles outbreak.

While many countries of origin for illegal immigrants administer measles vaccinations, there is no way to verify whether individuals crossing the border have been immunized.

This uncertainty poses serious risks, especially when large numbers of migrants are being dispersed into American communities without proper screening.

Public health officials emphasize the importance of vaccination, but they rarely address the fact that Texas has been disproportionately burdened by federal policies that prioritized open borders over security.

The state is left managing the consequences—whether in overwhelmed hospitals, strained school systems, or now, the return of a disease that should have remained in the history books.

At least the mass influx of border crossings has greatly diminished under President Trump. Unfortunately it does little to help with the current outbreak.

The Bottom Line:

A once-eliminated disease has returned, spreading quickly in Texas.

The federal government’s failure under Joe Biden to secure the border has left states like Texas exposed to public health risks, with no screening mechanisms in place for incoming migrants.

As cases rise, it’s clear that weak policies have real consequences—ones that American citizens are left to handle.