Measles Outbreak in East Texas May Have Infected Up to 300 with ‘Additional Cases Likely,' Officials Say

Mar. 15, 2025

Stock image of a child with measles.Photo:Getty

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An outbreak ofmeaslesamong a largely unvaccinated community in East Texas is spreading — and now officials think up to 300 people may be infected.

As of Tuesday, Feb. 18, 58 cases have been identified, with 13 of the patients requiring hospitalization, theTexas Department of State Health Services(TDSHS) confirmed. Only four of the patients are vaccinated, the agency said, with the rest either being unvaccinated, or their status unknown.

That’s a stark rise from the state’sprevious updateon Wednesday, Feb. 5, which noted there were only six confirmed cases of the disease at the time.

Officials suspect up to 300 people may be infected withmeasles, according to anNBC Newsreport, with the viral infection circulating through the city of Seminole and the surrounding area.

Stock image of a child getting vaccinated.Getty

“We have a high, high number of unvaccinated,” Tonya Guffey, the chief nursing officer at Seminole District Hospital told NBC. “It’s not that they’re not educated. It’s just what their belief is.”

The problem is that measles is contagious and airborne.

Stock image of a thermometer showing a high fever.Getty

“If you take one person with measles. and you put them in a room with 10 others, and if they’re not immune, thennine out of those 10 will get measlesjust from airborne spread,” Dr. Bruce Farber, Chief of Public Health and Epidemiology for Northwell Health, told PEOPLE in 2024. “It’s extraordinarily contagious.”

The only way to achieve immunity is to either recover from the virus, or to get vaccinated, theU.S. Centers for Disease Controlsays.

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While it does come with a telltale red skin inflammation, “measles isn’t just a little rash,” theCDCsays; The disease also comes with a high fever, cough, and runny nose. It also carries a risk of leading to pneumonia and encephalitis (swelling of the brain), which can cause hearing loss, cognitive disabilities and can even be fatal.

The Texas DSHS is warning residents to expect more cases. “Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities," the DSHS said in a statement.

source: people.com