Texas' unvaccinated are most at risk from measles outbreak, says expert

Record ID: 1984199

  • Title: Texas' unvaccinated are most at risk from measles outbreak, says expert
  • Date: 17th March 2025
  • Summary: WACO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES (MARCH 17, 2025) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) PETER HOTEZ, PROFESSOR OF PEDIATRICS AND MOLECULAR VIROLOGY AT THE BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE, SAYING: "Well, we know there's at least 250 plus infected children and adults. It’s probably an underestimate and it could be considerably higher because some of the affected individuals haven't sought me
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: MEASLES OUTBREAK PEDIATRICIAN TEXAS
  • Location: WACO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • City: WACO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: Health/Medicine,North America
  • Reuters ID: LVA001953717032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As Texas grapples with a measles outbreak that has infected 259 people, health experts warn that the state's unvaccinated population are most at risk of infection.
    The Texas health department reported 259 measles cases in the state on Friday (March 14), an increase of 36 cases from its previous count, with cases in Gaines county, the center of the outbreak, rising to 174 from 156.
    Hospitalizations rose to 34 from 29, the department said.
    Peter Hotez, a professor of pediatrics and virology at the Baylor College of Medicine, said Texas' unvaccinated population could be the reason behind the spread of the outbreak.
    "The reason it's happening is because we have a large unvaccinated population in west Texas... the lowest COVID vaccination rates were in some of these same counties, and that's spilling over to childhood immunizations," he said.
    "The numbers will continue to climb as long as there's large numbers of unvaccinated individuals. This virus is one of the most transmissible viruses we know," he added.
    An unvaccinated child with no underlying health conditions died of measles in Texas in February, marking the first death in the U.S. from the disease since 2015. Another death of an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico is still under investigation.
    The growing outbreak is the first major challenge for U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime vaccine skeptic who has emphasized the role of parents in decisions to vaccinate their children.
    Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 294 on Friday (March 14), surpassing all U.S. cases recorded in 2024, as an outbreak that began in late January in West Texas spreads.
    The U.S. reported 285 total infections last year, based on data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
    The CDC has said that the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most important tool for preventing measles.
    The vaccine's side effects include a sore arm, fever, mild rash and temporary joint pain or stiffness, according to the CDC.
    (Production: Liliana Salgado)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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