Texas is currently experiencing a significant outbreak of measles, with health authorities reporting numerous cases over the past month. However, the actual number of infections may be much higher than what is officially documented.

On Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services released their most recent update regarding the ongoing measles outbreak, which has persisted since at least mid-January. In the last three weeks alone, 48 cases have been identified in the rural South Plains area of Western Texas, primarily affecting children and teenagers. There are concerns among officials that the outbreak is still expanding, with estimates suggesting that hundreds of children may have been infected.

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that predominantly affects young children. Common symptoms include fever, a characteristic rash, coughing, and watery eyes. Recent studies have suggested that a measles infection can diminish a person’s immunity to other diseases, rendering them more susceptible to various infections.

While most individuals recover from measles, it poses a higher risk to younger children. Vaccination against measles is highly effective, yet the virus continues to circulate in regions with inadequate vaccination coverage. Recently, there has been a notable increase in global measles cases. The World Health Organization reports that in 2023, there were approximately 10 million measles cases worldwide, a 20% increase from the previous year, alongside more than 100,000 deaths attributable to the disease.

In the United States, measles was declared eradicated over 20 years ago. However, the virus can still incite outbreaks, especially in communities with vaccination rates below the necessary threshold for herd immunity. To prevent widespread transmission of measles, approximately 94% of a community needs to be vaccinated.

As of now, at least 13 individuals from this recent outbreak have been hospitalized. Officials anticipate that more cases will emerge, with estimates suggesting that between 200 and 300 individuals may have contracted the virus so far. The Texas Department of State Health Services indicates that all confirmed cases involve unvaccinated individuals or those whose vaccination status is not known. The majority of cases are clustered within a rural Mennonite community, but health officials clarify that the low vaccination rates are not due to explicit religious opposition.

“It’s not the church that is causing the low vaccination rates,” Texas DSHS spokesperson Lara Anton shared with the Associated Press. “It’s all a matter of personal choice, and people can decide what they want. The issue is that the community tends not to seek regular health care.”

In the U.S., the overall measles vaccination rate remains strong, although there has been a slight decline in recent years. As of the 2022-2023 school year, approximately 93% of school-aged children have received their measles, mumps, and rubella vaccination. However, the anti-vaccination movement has contributed to a decrease in public confidence in certain vaccines. This issue could be exacerbated with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. set to take on a leadership role as the new director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the agency responsible for overseeing public health initiatives. Kennedy and other notable anti-vaccine advocates have frequently disseminated false or misleading information regarding vaccine safety, often based on poorly conducted, misrepresented, or fraudulent research.

This ongoing situation in Texas may just be an indication of challenges that lie ahead.