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A West Texas resident with measles visited multiple locations in San Antonio, New Braunfels, and San Marcos, Texas, between February 14th and 16th, prompting health officials to issue a warning. These locations included Texas State University, the University of Texas at San Antonio, the San Antonio River Walk, and a Buc-ees in New Braunfels. Individuals present at these locations during the specified times should monitor for symptoms. This outbreak, stemming from Gaines County (with an 18% unvaccinated rate), is the largest measles outbreak in Texas in three decades. Health officials urge vaccination to prevent further spread.
Two individuals, one in Wyoming and one in Ohio, were hospitalized with H5N1 bird flu, highlighting the virus’s potential severity. The Wyoming patient, exposed to infected poultry, remains hospitalized, while the Ohio patient, exposed during poultry depopulation, has recovered. These cases underscore concerns about reassortment with seasonal flu, potentially creating a pandemic-capable virus, given the current severe flu season. Prior H1N1 infection may offer some cross-protection, but its extent remains uncertain.
As of Friday, a measles outbreak in northwest Texas has reached 90 confirmed cases, with 32 new cases reported since Tuesday and 16 hospitalizations. The outbreak is largely affecting unvaccinated individuals, particularly children and teens, in Gaines and Terry Counties, which have high vaccine exemption rates. Highly contagious, measles spreads easily through the air, and severe complications can be fatal. The surge coincides with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s recent appointment as health secretary, despite his history of anti-vaccine activism.
Texas is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in three decades, with at least 90 cases and 16 hospitalizations in the South Plains region. The majority of cases are in unvaccinated children and teenagers, largely due to parental choice or unknown vaccination status; Gaines County, with a high exemption rate, is the epicenter. This surge follows a nationwide increase in measles cases, reaching the highest number since 2019. The outbreak coincides with the confirmation of an anti-vaccine activist to a national health position, raising further concerns.
Texas is currently experiencing a measles outbreak, with the confirmed case count reaching 90—the largest outbreak in over three decades. This surge is deeply concerning, especially considering the readily available preventative measures. The sheer number of cases underscores a significant failure in public health, raising serious questions about vaccination rates and parental responsibility.
The fact that only a small fraction of those infected—around 5 out of 90—were vaccinated highlights the effectiveness of the measles vaccine. This stark contrast between the vaccinated and unvaccinated populations strongly suggests that vaccine hesitancy is the primary driver of this outbreak. The overwhelming majority of cases are either unvaccinated individuals or those with unknown vaccination status.… Continue reading
Following Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s appointment, the CDC indefinitely postponed a vaccine advisory committee meeting and discontinued its “Wild to Mild” flu vaccine campaign. The campaign’s removal, amidst a severe flu season, occurred after the Department of Health and Human Services instructed the CDC to emphasize “informed consent” in vaccine messaging. Experts warn that overemphasizing potential vaccine risks, however minimal, could discourage vaccination uptake. This shift in messaging raises concerns about public health efforts to promote vital preventative healthcare.
In an effort to cut costs, the USDA inadvertently terminated several bird flu experts, a move it is now working to rectify. These terminations, part of broader federal workforce reductions, impacted essential personnel despite exemptions for veterinarians and emergency responders. The highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, responsible for the culling of 148 million birds and impacting egg prices and human health, necessitates these experts’ continued employment. These actions follow recommendations from the Department of Government Efficiency and coincide with the cancellation of numerous contracts, some related to DEI initiatives.
The Trump administration abruptly halted the CDC’s successful “Wild to Mild” flu vaccination campaign, which used animal imagery to illustrate the vaccine’s effectiveness in reducing illness severity. The decision, made by the Department of Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s leadership, comes despite the campaign’s proven success in improving public understanding of flu vaccines and amidst a severe flu season with record-high hospitalizations. The campaign’s digital presence has been removed, and further communication efforts are now suspended. This action has prompted concern among public health experts given the campaign’s positive impact on vaccination rates, particularly among high-risk groups.
The USDA accidentally fired several employees involved in the federal response to the H5N1 avian flu outbreak over the weekend. The agency is working to immediately reverse these firings, classifying these positions as crucial to public safety and food supply. These layoffs, part of broader government cuts, caused concern among Republican lawmakers who warned of potential harm to the bird flu response. The incident highlights the challenges and unintended consequences of rapid government downsizing.
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood