Measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico continues to escalate

The measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico continues to expand, with 450 cases in just 2 months. Texas is the most affected state, with 400 cases in 17 counties. Most infections are among unvaccinated children. In New Mexico, Lea County, which borders Texas, has reported 42 cases, again mostly among unvaccinated individuals. Two cases have also been reported in nearby Eddy County, bringing the state’s total to 44. At least two people, one in Texas and one in New Mexico, have died due to the outbreak.
Two neighboring states, Oklahoma and Kansas, have reported cases possibly linked to the epidemic. According to Amira A. Roess, Professor of Global Health at George Mason University, the outbreak is remarkable because it started in a rural area and spread quickly to others. She also hinted at the risks of the situation while the US government is scaling back its infectious disease research and surveillance infrastructure. The virus could mutate if allowed to circulate for too long, impacting vaccine efficacy and provoking severe consequences.
There have been 483 measles cases in the US this year already, nearly the same amount recorded in the previous 5 years combined. Last week, the WHO warned about the “potential significant public health impact” of the epidemic in the country, which could easily spill into Mexico where vaccination coverage is very low. Roess said that measles spreading beyond the US border is likely unless there is a robust response to stop transmission and improve vaccination rates.