Measles outbreak in U.S. state hits 48 cases, worst in nearly 30 years

The ongoing measles outbreak in West Texas, U.S. has doubled in size to 48 cases, mostly in children and teens, making it the state's worst in nearly 30 years.

State health officials said in a news release on Friday that those who are infected are either unvaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown. Thirteen people have been hospitalized.

The cases have been concentrated in a "close-knit, undervaccinated" Mennonite community, Texas Department of State Health Services spokesperson Lara Anton said. Gaines County is highly rural, so many of the families send their children to small private schools or are homeschooled, Anton said.

"The church isn't the reason that they're not vaccinated," Anton said. "It's all personal choice and you can do whatever you want. It's just that the community doesn't go and get regular health care."

Anton said the state is working with local health officials to increase screening and vaccination efforts. Health officials are also working to educate school officials on identifying measles symptoms and encouraging families to vaccinate their kids.

Measles is a highly contagious virus that can survive in the air for up to two hours. Up to 9 out of 10 people who are susceptible will get the virus if exposed, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, the U.S. saw some 3 million to 4 million cases per year. Now, it's usually fewer than 200 in a normal year.

The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.

Vaccination against measles, a two-shot series, is required for most U.S. kindergartners in order for them to enroll in public school.

Texas law allows children to get an exemption from school vaccines for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. The percentage of kids with exemptions has risen over the last decade from 0.76 percent in 2014 to 2.32 percent last year, according to state data.

(With input from AP)