CNN
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The outbreak of measles in West Texas has led to a total of 58 confirmed cases, as reported by the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The majority of cases are concentrated in Gaines County, which has reported 45 instances. Surrounding regions are also experiencing an uptick in cases, including 9 in Terry County, 2 in Yoakum County, 1 in Lynn County, and 1 in Lubbock County.

Most of the patients are children aged 5 to 17. While many of those affected are either unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status, there are four cases involving individuals who reported being vaccinated. Further information about these four vaccinations is currently unavailable.

Symptoms for all reported cases began within the last three weeks, with thirteen individuals requiring hospitalization.

Community health departments in West Texas are organizing free vaccination clinics to combat the outbreak. According to Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, over 95 measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccinations have been administered at their clinics, which have recently extended their hours to serve the public seven days a week.

Given the highly contagious nature of measles, health experts caution that the number of cases may continue to escalate locally.

Measles is an airborne disease that can manifest in symptoms such as rash, fever, red eyes, and cough. Severe complications can include blindness, pneumonia, or encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the brain and can sometimes lead to fatal outcomes.

Vaccination coverage of the MMR vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where approximately 20% of incoming kindergarteners for the 2023-24 school year have not received the vaccine.

Other affected counties in Texas are also below the 95% vaccination rate goal for kindergarteners, which is a benchmark set by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services aimed at preventing measles outbreaks. Lynn, Lubbock, and Yoakum counties all hover around 92%, based on statistics from the Texas Department of Health.

The U.S. has now missed that vaccination target for four consecutive years.

Additionally, eight measles cases have been confirmed in Lea County, New Mexico, which borders Gaines County, Texas, as reported by the New Mexico Department of Health. The department has not established any direct link to the cases in Texas.

The five latest cases, reported on Tuesday, involve a single family currently in isolation.

Of the eight confirmed cases in Lea County, six involved individuals who were not vaccinated, while the other two believe they were vaccinated, as stated by Robert Nott, the communications director for the state health department. None of these individuals have required hospitalization.

The New Mexico health department is also organizing free vaccination clinics in Lea County.

The United States recorded 285 measles cases last year, the highest number since 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Clarification: This article has been updated to clarify that the four Texas patients who received vaccinations self-reported their immunization status, as per the state health department.