CDC Finds 90% of West Texas Measles Hospitalizations Hit Children as 4 of 5 Adults Were Pregnant
Updated
Updated · Texas Public Radio · May 31
CDC Finds 90% of West Texas Measles Hospitalizations Hit Children as 4 of 5 Adults Were Pregnant
3 articles · Updated · Texas Public Radio · May 31
Summary
54 of 60 early measles hospitalizations reviewed by the CDC were overwhelmingly severe pediatric cases: more than 90% were children, and over half were younger than 4.
Four of the five adults hospitalized between Jan. 20 and March 18, 2025 were pregnant; two gave birth in the hospital, and both newborns tested positive for measles within two days.
More than 70% of those patients developed pneumonia, nearly 70% had hypoxia, 70% needed supplemental oxygen, and four children entered intensive care; two were intubated and one child died.
All patients in the CDC report were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status, underscoring who was most vulnerable in the outbreak.
The West Texas outbreak continued through Aug. 18, infecting 762 people and hospitalizing 99; a second child later died, bringing the death toll to two.
After a devastating Texas outbreak, is America about to lose its decades-old victory over measles?
The measles outbreak is over. What fatal brain disease now haunts its child survivors?
A measles outbreak hit a healthcare desert. What was the hidden toll on pregnant women and their babies?
Measles Resurgence in 2025: The West Texas Outbreak and the Collapse of Vaccine Confidence in America
Overview
In early 2025, West Texas became the center of a major measles outbreak, which quickly spread and drove a sharp rise in cases across the United States. This surge led to 47 outbreaks nationwide, with 88 percent of cases linked to these clusters, highlighting the fragility of measles elimination in the country. The rapid spread was fueled by large numbers of unvaccinated people in Texas and New Mexico, making communities vulnerable. The outbreak revealed how quickly measles can return when vaccination rates drop, stressing the importance of strong public health measures and high vaccine coverage.