(March 7, 2025) – As of Feb. 28, the State of Texas Health Department is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. At that time, 146 cases had been identified since late January. Twenty of the patients have been hospitalized. There has been one fatality of a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area and was not vaccinated. Only three percent of the cases in Texas were in vaccinated individuals.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment issued a Health Alert Network alert on March 3 that included information about the Texas outbreak and additional measles cases in other states, including Alaska, California, Georgia, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York and Rhode Island. Because of the recent outbreaks, KDHE advises health care providers to be on alert for patients who have: (1) febrile rash illness and symptoms consistent with measles (e.g., cough, coryza, or conjunctivitis) particularly among unvaccinated individuals, or (2) have recently traveled, especially internationally or domestically to areas with ongoing measles outbreaks, or 3) have frequent contact with unimmunized individuals in a congregate setting (e.g. attends daycare).
As a reminder, Mandated Reporters, including clinicians, are required by Kansas Administrative Regulation (K.A.R. 28-1-2) to report by phone all suspected cases of measles to the 24/7 KDHE Epidemiology Hotline (877-427-7317, option 5) within four hours of suspicion. Laboratories are required by K.A.R. 28-1-18 to report laboratory results of measles to KDHE using an approved electronic method. Review the CDC webpage Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Vaccination: What Everyone Should Know for more information regarding MMR vaccination.
--Karen Braman