FLASH STAFF REPORT
April 2, 2025
The measles outbreak continues to spread across the state with two new counties reporting cases, including Erath County.
According to the Texas Department of Health and Human Services Department, there are two new counties reporting cases of the measles outbreak from West Texas – Brown and Erath – as of March 28. The state releases a new report on the outbreak every Tuesday and Friday.
As of April 1, the patient in Erath County has fully recovered, according to DHHS.
At this time, 422 cases have been identified since late January. Forty-two of the patients have been hospitalized. There has been one fatality in a school-aged child who lived in the outbreak area. The child was not vaccinated and had no known underlying conditions.
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 Tuesday DSHS report stated, the best way to prevent getting sick is to be immunized with two doses of a vaccine against measles, which is primarily administered as the combination measles-mumps-rubella vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.
To get vaccinated, people can go to their healthcare provider or a pharmacy. Vaccines are also available through the Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net Providers. Pharmacies can vaccinate people 14 and older without a prescription. Children under 14 need a prescription to get the MMR vaccine at a pharmacy.
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