Texas declares state’s measles outbreak over

State health officials said Monday that Texas’ measles outbreak, which sickened 762 people and took the lives of at least two, is officially over.

In a statement, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services (DSHS) said it’s been 42 days since officials recorded a new measles case, passing the threshold public health officials use to declare that measles outbreaks have run their course.

“I want to highlight the tireless work of the public health professionals across the state who contributed to the containment of one of the most contagious viruses,” DSHS Commissioner Jennifer Shuford said in a statement. “We arrived at this point through a comprehensive outbreak response that included testing, vaccination, disease monitoring and educating the public about measles through awareness campaigns. I also want to recognize the many health care professionals who identified and treated cases of a virus that most providers had never seen in person before this outbreak.”

The state’s worst such outbreak in decades began in January. Experts traced its origins to an unvaccinated Mennonite community in West Texas, and some experts said growing vaccine hesitancy may have exacerbated its spread. During the outbreak, two unvaccinated school-age children died of the virus, which causes rashes and respiratory problems.

Concerns mounted during the health crisis that Trump administration Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, a vaccine skeptic, might worsen the situation by sending mixed signals.

Amid the outbreak, Texas children were treated for vitamin A toxicity as Kennedy praised the supplement as an alternative method for treating measles. He also declared that contracting the disease was the best way to fight it.

Although the current outbreak is over, DSHS warned that similar outbreaks are “likely” in Texas this year due to the virus’  brisk spread in other parts of North America.

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This article appears in Aug 7-20, 2025.