Measles cases, a highly contagious viral disease primarily affecting children, are rising in Texas and several other states in the United States, according to official figures. The Texas Department of Health and Human Services reported that an outbreak that started in the northwest of the state has increased from two cases of unvaccinated children in Gaines County to 58 cases across five counties.
The last major measles outbreak in the United States occurred six years ago, when 22 outbreaks caused 1,249 cases between January 1 and October 1, according to USA Today. According to the CDC, the 2019 outbreak was the largest in a single year since 1992, eight years before measles was declared eliminated in the United States. Most of the infected children were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
On February 14, New Mexico officials reported an outbreak in Lea County, adjacent to Gaines County. Three residents tested positive for measles during the week, according to the Xinhua news agency. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as of February 6, there are five states with measles cases: Alaska, Georgia, New York, Rhode Island, and Texas.
