Texas Mearles outbreak swells up to 561 cases, CDC sends more help

Cases of measles have continued to increase in Texas since the outbreak began in late January.

State health officials reported 561 cases confirmed to 23 counties on Tuesday, an increase of 20 from April 11.

Cases in Gaines County, the center of the outbreak in West Texas, jumped from 355 to 364, according to Reuters, citing the Texas State Health Services Department (DSHS). According to health officials, the county represents almost 65% of the total state cases.

In response to the outbreak, the United States government will send seven staff to the state to help fight the outbreak, the departure reported.

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Dr. David Sugerman, from the Disease Control and Prevention Centers (CDC), gave an update on the United States response to the measles outbreak on Tuesday, according to Reuters. He said that the CDC had already deployed 15 troops in Texas from March 4 to April 1, and that the agency was planning to send a second team on Tuesday, reported the dam.

However, Sugerman said that a response to the outbreak has been hindered by the cancellation of federal subsidies in the states, according to Reuters.

“We are scratching to find the resources and staff needed to provide support for Texas and other jurisdictions,” said Sugnerman.

According to officials, the second child with measles has died in Texas

A local public health official also told Reuters that the outbreak could last a year.

Dr. Katherine Wells, director of Lubbock Public Health, told Reuters that if the outbreak continues to extend -after January 20, 2026, the United States could be at risk of losing the removal status of measles. The United States was declared free of endemic measles in 2000.

Texas health officials said that only 4%, less than 25 of confirmed cases, are estimated to be “actively infectious”. Individuals are probably infectious four days before and after the appearance of the eruption.

Since the outbreak of the outbreak, 58 of the total patients in the state have been hospitalized.

Currently, children under the age of 18 are the largest demographic of those infected with measles, representing 381 of the 561 cases.

Two fatalities have been recorded among school -aged children. The children were not vaccinated and had no underlying conditions.

Since January, seven cases have been reported in those that were considered completely vaccinated and four cases where they had only one dose of vaccine, according to health officials.

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The other 550 cases were reported in people who were not vaccinated or their state of vaccination is unknown.

Reuters contributed to this report.