The measles outbreak in Texas continues to escalate, with the state reporting 561 confirmed cases, up by 20 since April 11, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. Gaines County remains the hardest-hit, with 364 cases, marking it as the epicenter of the outbreak.
To combat the growing crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced on Tuesday that it is deploying an additional seven personnel to Texas. This follows a previous deployment of 15 CDC workers who were stationed in the state from March 4 to April 1 to offer on-site assistance.
“We are scraping to find the resources and personnel needed to provide support to Texas and other jurisdictions,” said Dr. David Sugerman of the CDC’s Division of Viral Diseases.
A Strain on Resources
Sugerman explained that the response is being strained due to the cancellation of $11 billion in federal grants that were initially allocated during the COVID-19 pandemic. These funds had supported tracking and prevention of infectious diseases like measles and bird flu.
Despite these limitations, the CDC has already helped seven hospitals implement infection control systems and continues to review and advise school safety strategies in Texas and other states.
Local Impact and Concerns
In nearby Lubbock County, now reporting 41 cases, Dr. Katherine Wells, Director of Lubbock Public Health, said their first cases were identified in January when two unvaccinated children were hospitalized. Neither had traveled, suggesting the virus had been quietly circulating in the area.
“I’m not sure we’ll ever know definitively how measles came into this community,” Wells said. “But it had definitely been circulating when we found out about it.”
She warned that the outbreak could last for up to a year.
Rising Death Toll and National Risk
So far, 58 patients have been hospitalized in Texas, and two unvaccinated children without underlying health conditions have tragically died due to measles complications.
The CDC also cautioned that the U.S. may lose its measles elimination status if the outbreak continues to spread beyond January 20, 2026.
Outbreak Spreads Beyond Texas
New Mexico, which borders Gaines County, reported 63 cases as of Tuesday, including one new hospitalization. Most cases were from Lea County, neighboring the Texas hotspot, with the first case of 2025 confirmed in Doña Ana County.
