On Feb. 24, 2025, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported an outbreak of measles in centered in West Texas continues to grow. As of February 21, 90 cases had been identified since late January nearly double the previously reported number of cases. Sixteen of the patients were hospitalized. Five of the cases were vaccinated.

The measles virus can survive in the air for up to two hours, so the times listed include two hours after the individual left that location. Because measles symptoms can begin 7 to 21 days after an exposure, DSHS is sharing this information with health care providers and the public in the area so unvaccinated people may monitor themselves for symptoms and seek testing if symptoms occur.

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 (MMR) vaccine. Two doses of the MMR vaccine are highly effective at preventing measles.