Texas measles outbreak jumps to 2 new counties, both nearly 300 miles from epicenter

The number of people infected in Texas’ rapidly worsening measles outbreak has grown to 422, including cases reported in two new counties, both nearly 300 miles from the spread’s epicenter, state health officials said Tuesday.

The state’s worst measles outbreak in three decades now spans 19 counties, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. To date, it’s hospitalized 42 people.

Erath, one of the two new counties reporting infections, is located nearly 290 miles east of Gaines County, the southern Panhandle community that’s ground zero for the outbreak. The other new county, Dallam, is located nearly 270 miles north of Gaines.

Last Friday, the state reported 73 new cases, the largest spike over a three-day period since the start of the outbreak. At the time, public health officials also warned that they could record another upswing due to spring break travel.

“The first day of the first spring break week in Texas was March 10, so we are still within the first incubation period,” Texas Department of State Health Services spokeswoman Lara Anton told the Texas Tribune. “Spikes in cases in an outbreak are easier to see when we’re looking back at the data rather than in the moment.” The Lone Star State’s outbreak has occurred against a backdrop of increasing vaccine skepticism spread online and by right-wing media and political figures. So far, one Texas resident — an unvaccinated school-age child — has died during the outbreak, according health officials. Of the total number of people infected in the state, only four had their full two-dose measles vaccine.

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This article appears in Mar 19 – Apr 1, 2025.