Texas measles cases grow to 223, mostly among children and teens
The measles outbreak in western Texas is continuing to grow with 25 cases confirmed over the last five days, bringing the total to 223 cases, according to new data published Tuesday.
Almost all of the cases are in unvaccinated individuals or in individuals whose vaccination status is unknown, with 80 unvaccinated and 138 of unknown status, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. At least 29 people have been hospitalized so far.
Just five cases have occurred in people vaccinated with one dose of the measles, mumps, rubella vaccine, according to the data.
The new data in Texas comes as the Oklahoma State Department of Health reported two "probable" cases of measles in the state on Tuesday
The department said the patients had exposure "associated with the Texas and New Mexico outbreak" and are reporting experiencing symptoms consistent with measles. OSDH said there's currently no public health threat associated with the two cases.
In the Texas outbreak, children and teenagers between ages 5 and 17 make up the majority of cases at 98, followed by children ages 4 and under at 76 cases, according to the data.
"Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak," the department said in a press release.
Two likely measles deaths have been reported so far in the U.S. One is a confirmed death associated with measles, while the other has been definitively linked to the measles virus but the cause of death officially remains under investigation.
The first was an unvaccinated school-aged child in Texas, according to the DSHS. The child did not have any known underlying conditions, according to the department.
The Texas death was the first measles death recorded in the U.S. in a decade, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Another probable measles death was recorded last week after an unvaccinated New Mexico resident tested positive for the virus.
Gaines County is the epicenter of the Texas outbreak, with 156 cases confirmed among residents, according to the DSHS. State health data shows the number of vaccine exemptions in Gaines County has grown dramatically.
In 2013, roughly 7.5% of kindergartners in the county had parents or guardians who filed for an exemption for at least one vaccine. Ten years later, that number rose to more than 17.5% -- one of the highest in all of Texas, according to state health data.
The CDC has has confirmed hundreds of cases in 15 states so far this year, spanning Alaska, Maryland, Oklahoma, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Texas and Washington.
Some of the most recently reported cases have been linked to international travel, including the first cases on record on Maryland and Vermont. A case was also reported in Los Angeles on Tuesday involving a patient who had recently traveled through the Los Angeles International Airport, or LAX.
The majority of nationally confirmed cases are in people who are unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Of the cases, 4% are among those who received one dose of the MMR shot and 2% are among those who received two doses, according to the CDC.
Children and teenagers also make up the majority of cases in Texas with 175 infections confirmed among those ages 19 and under, CDC data shows.
Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to humans. Just one infected patient can spread measles to up to nine out of 10 susceptible close contacts, according to the CDC.
Health officials have been urging anyone who isn't vaccinated to receive the MMR vaccine.
The CDC currently recommends that people receive two vaccine doses, the first at ages 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years old. One dose is 93% effective, and two doses are 97% effective, the CDC says. Most vaccinated adults don't need a booster.
For those living in the outbreak area, Texas health officials are recommending that parents consider an early dose of the MMR vaccine for children between 6 months and 11 months, and that adults receive a second MMR dose if they only received one in the past.
Last week, the CDC said in a post on X that it was on the ground in Texas, partnering with DSHS officials to respond to the measles outbreak.
Measles was declared eliminated from the U.S. in 2000 due to the highly effective vaccination program, according to the CDC. However, CDC data shows vaccination rates have been lagging in recent years.
ABC News Youri Benadjaoud contributed to this report.
