A recent measles outbreak in rural West Texas has escalated to 124 confirmed cases across nine counties, according to an announcement from the state health department on Tuesday. Out of these, 18 individuals have required hospitalization.

The majority of the cases are emerging within the Mennonite community in an area where small towns are scattered across wide expanses of oil rig-laden land. The towns are interconnected as residents frequently travel for work, church services, grocery shopping, and other daily activities.

Eric Horton, the mayor of Brownfield, expressed his confidence in the effectiveness of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, which has been utilized for decades and has significantly mitigated measles transmission across the United States.

Brownfield, located in Terry County, has reported 21 cases.

“I have never encountered anything like this so close to home. We’ve seen some outbreaks over the years, but to have this make national headlines is truly shocking,” said Horton.

In eastern New Mexico, the number of measles cases remained unchanged at nine, with state health officials clarifying that there is currently no evidence linking this outbreak to the one in Texas.

As of Tuesday, the case count in West Texas has risen by 34 since Friday. The majority of cases are clustered in Gaines County, with 80 infections, followed by Terry County, which has 21 reported cases.

Dawson County to the east of Gaines has recorded seven cases, while Yoakum County has five, Ector County has two, and both Lubbock and Lynn Counties each have one case. Nearby Martin County has reported three cases.

Additionally, Dallam County, located in the far northeastern corner of the Panhandle region, has confirmed four cases. Health officials noted potential exposures in mid-February from an infected individual who traveled to San Marcos, San Antonio, and New Braunfels.

Data from the Texas health department indicates that the overwhelming majority of cases involve individuals under the age of 18. Specifically, there are 39 infections among children under four, and 62 among those aged five to 17. Eighteen adults have also contracted measles, while five cases remain under age assessment.

This outbreak is noted as Texas’s largest occurrence in nearly three decades. According to health department representative Lara Anton, cases have been primarily reported within a “close-knit, undervaccinated” Mennonite community, especially among families enrolled in small private religious schools or who homeschool their children.

A Brownfield father of three, Dylan Cruz, expressed minimal concern over the outbreak. “I only learned about it through word-of-mouth,” said the 28-year-old, whose children are vaccinated against measles.

All reported cases in New Mexico are located in Lea County, which shares a border with Gaines County in Texas. The state health department has indicated that potential exposure sites include a grocery store, an elementary school, a church, Nor-Lea hospital, and a Walgreens in Hobbs, New Mexico.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that can persist in the air for up to two hours. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up to 90% of unvaccinated individuals can contract the virus if exposed. While most children recover from measles, serious complications such as pneumonia, blindness, and encephalitis can occur, leading to severe health risks.

The MMR vaccine is both safe and effective in preventing measles; it is recommended that children receive their first dose between 12 to 15 months, followed by a second dose between four and six years. This vaccination series is mandatory for public school kindergarten enrollment nationwide.

Prior to the vaccine’s introduction in 1963, the United States experienced approximately 3 to 4 million measles cases annually. In comparison, recent years typically see fewer than 200 cases annually.

Extensive research has disproven any connection between the vaccine and autism, despite prior misinformation and a now-refuted study.

In response to the outbreak, New Mexico health officials are conducting vaccination clinics this Wednesday and Thursday.

In Texas, the CDC is offering “technical assistance, laboratory support, and vaccines as necessary,” as communicated to the Associated Press. However, the state health department is at the forefront of managing the outbreak investigation.

Local workers in the West Texas area are organizing consistent vaccination clinics and screening initiatives, while also collaborating with schools to promote vaccination awareness and provide immunizations.

Dr. Martin Ortega, a family medicine physician affiliated with Texas Tech Physicians of the Permian Basin-Odessa in Ector County, noted that challenges such as the vast distances between communities in West Texas complicate health officials’ efforts. “We need to remain vigilant because our communities are interconnected, and the distance should not give a false sense of security,” he remarked.