The measles outbreak in western Texas has now reached 624 cases, with 27 new infections confirmed in the last five days.
Almost all cases are among non -vaccinated individuals or among those whose vaccination status is unknown, according to new data Posted by the Department of Health Services of the State of Texas (DSHS) on Tuesday.
Currently, 10 cases are among the residents who have been vaccinated with a dose of the measles vaccine, paper and rubella (MMR), while 12 cases are among those vaccinated with two doses.
At least 64 measles patients have been hospitalized so far, according to the DSHS. Most confirmed cases have been presented in children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years, followed by children 4 years or less.
Gaines County, which limits with New Mexico, remains the epicenter of the outbreak, with 386 cases confirmed so far, according to DSHS data.
The signals indicate the way to measles tests in the parking lot of the Seminole hospital district in front of the Wigwam stadium, on February 27, 2025 in Seminole, Texas.
Jan Sonnenmair/Getty images, file
The increase in cases occurs as five measles cases have been confirmed in Montana. The patients were exposed while traveling outside Montana and are not vaccinated or have an unknown state of vaccination, the State Public Health Department & Human Services (DPHHS) said in a Press release.
Montana Dphhs and the Health Department of the City of Gallatin saying that these are the first cases of measles recorded in Montana in 35 years.
Three additional states – Louisiana, Missouri and Virginia – He also reported his first measles cases of 2025 in the last week.
In addition, two new cases of measles have been confirmed in Indian Indiana Health Department.
Until Friday, the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) have so far confirmed 800 cases of measles in at least 24 states: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indian Washington. This number is likely to be lower content due to delays in states that report cases to the Federal Health Agency.
Among the national cases confirmed by CDCs, approximately 97% are in people who are not vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Of these cases, 1% are among those who have received only one dose of the inoculation of MMR and 2% are among those who received the two required doses, according to the CDC.
CDC currently recommended That people receive two doses of vaccine, the first at the ages of 12 to 15 months and the second between 4 and 6 years. A dose is 93% effective and two doses are 97% effective against measles, according to CDC. Most vaccinated adults do not need reinforcement.
Public health officials can recommend a dose of the MMR vaccine up to 6 months of age for babies who travel internationally or in areas affected by an outbreak in the United States.
Measles were declared eliminated from the USA in 2000 due to the highly effective vaccination program, according to CDC. However, CDC data shows that vaccination rates have been lagging behind in recent years.
An outbreak that lasts 12 months or more would threaten to finish the status of measles elimination in the United States, the great outbreak in Texas began in January of this year.
ABC News’ Youri Benadjaoud and Jade Cobern contributed to this report.
