Texas Measles Outbreak Reaches 30-Year High Amidst Vaccine Hesitancy
Texas is experiencing its worst measles outbreak in nearly 30 years, with 48 confirmed cases, mostly among children under 18 in Gaines County. The surge is linked to low vaccination rates within a close-knit community, exacerbated by a decade-long increase in vaccine exemptions. While 2,000 vaccine doses have been sent from the CDC, they are currently prioritized for partially vaccinated individuals, and the state has not requested federal assistance. The outbreak has spread to neighboring counties in Texas and even to New Mexico.
John Q. Hosedrinker