How declining vaccination rates and misinformation are fueling a resurgence of measles, with Texas at the epicenter
Introduction
Once considered a disease of the past, measles has made an alarming comeback in the United States. This highly contagious virus poses serious health threats, especially to unvaccinated populations, and its return highlights the risks of declining immunization rates. Nowhere is this issue more evident than in Texas, where a surge of cases is raising public health alarms.
In 2000, the United States declared measles eliminated — a major public health triumph – thanks to widespread vaccination efforts. Yet by April 2025, that success story has taken a dramatic turn. The measles resurgence of 2025 is sweeping across multiple states, with Texas standing at the center of the storm.
As of April 25, 2025, 884 cases have been confirmed nationally, according to the CDC — the highest number in decades. Of these, a staggering 646 cases have been reported in Texas alone, making it the epicenter of the nation’s worst measles outbreak in over 30 years.
This resurgence is not just a statistical concern — it reflects deeper societal challenges involving misinformation, public trust, and the responsibilities we owe to one another. This comeback is not just a Texas problem or even a U.S. problem.
It is a warning:
When vaccination rates fall and misinformation rises, diseases once pushed to the brink of extinction can roar back with devastating consequences.
What Is Measles?
Measles is a highly contagious viral respiratory illness caused by the measles virus (MeV). It belongs to the Morbillivirus genus within the Paramyxoviridae family.
It is characterized by a high fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, and a signature rash that spreads across the body. However, it is far more dangerous than many realize.
In fact, measles is the most contagious virus known to science, with one infected person capable of spreading the disease to 12 to 18 others — a transmission rate even higher than that of smallpox.
Infected individuals can transmit the virus simply by breathing, coughing, or sneezing. The virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours, infecting anyone who passes through the area.
Complications from measles are serious and include:
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Pneumonia (leading cause of measles-related deaths)
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Brain swelling (encephalitis)
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Blindness
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Severe diarrhea and dehydration
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Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (SSPE), a rare but fatal neurodegenerative disease
Young children, pregnant individuals, and immunocompromised people are at the greatest risk for severe outcomes.
The History of Measles: A Once-Deadly Force
Measles is far from a benign childhood illness. Before vaccines, it was one of the most feared infectious diseases worldwide. In the early 20th century, measles infected nearly every child, and globally, it caused an estimated 2.6 million deaths each year..
In the United States alone, before 1963:
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3 to 4 million people were infected annually
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48,000 required hospitalization
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1,000 developed encephalitis (brain swelling)
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400 to 500 died each year
The introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, followed by the combined MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine in the 1970s, changed everything. Cases plummeted by more than 99%. By maintaining high vaccination rates, the U.S. declared measles eliminated by 2000 — a monumental achievement in modern medicine.
However, by April 2025:
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Over 600 cases were reported nationally.
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Texas alone reported 646 cases, with 56 hospitalizations and deaths of two unvaccinated children (the deaths, which were easily preventable, and I would call those futile deaths).
But elimination is not eradication. And today, we are seeing just how fragile that achievement was.
Internationally, countries like Australia have also seen a spike, largely attributed to vaccination gaps post-COVID-19 pandemic.
Understanding Measles: Why It Spreads So Quickly
As mentioned above, measles is among the most contagious viruses known. Its basic reproduction number (R0) — the average number of people one infected person will infect — is between 12 and 18. By contrast, the original strain of COVID-19 had an R0 of around 2 to 3.
Transmission occurs through:
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Airborne particles: The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours after an infected person coughs or sneezes.
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Surface contamination: Touching contaminated surfaces and then touching the face can lead to infection.
The virus initially infects the respiratory system before spreading throughout the body. After an incubation period of 7–14 days, symptoms appear:
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High fever
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Cough
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Runny nose
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Red, watery eyes
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Koplik spots (tiny white spots inside the mouth)
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A characteristic rash starting on the face and spreading downward
Once symptomatic, the patient becomes a potent transmitter, often infecting 90% of unvaccinated close contacts.
Texas Outbreak: A Crisis Unfolds
In 2025, Texas has emerged as ground zero for the measles resurgence.
Gaines County and several rural counties report dangerously low MMR vaccination rates, some falling below 85%. A tragic case of a previously healthy, unvaccinated school-aged child succumbing to measles highlights the stakes of vaccine hesitancy.
Religious exemptions, personal belief exemptions, and philosophical exemptions are all on the rise, creating clusters of susceptibility — perfect conditions for outbreaks.
Key figures:
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646 confirmed cases statewide
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64 hospitalizations, many involving young children
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2 deaths, both in unvaccinated children under 5- unvaccinated but otherwise healthy — who succumbed to complications from measles. This heartbreaking outcome starkly illustrates how declining immunization rates can open the door to preventable deaths.
The hardest-hit areas are primarily in northwest Texas, including counties like Gaines, Lubbock, and Terry. These regions have seen vaccination rates dip below 85%, far lower than the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity against measles.
What’s behind the Texas surge?
The resurgence of measles stems largely from vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, public trust in health authorities has been undermined by polarized political narratives and amplified misinformation.
Factors causing this resurgence and putting the world at risk are:
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Vaccine Hesitancy: Fueled by online misinformation and distrust of government health campaigns.
- Social media algorithms often promote anti-vaccine content more aggressively than scientific facts.
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Population Pockets: Tight-knit communities with low vaccination rates have provided fertile ground for outbreaks.
- Misleading narratives framing vaccination as a “personal choice” without acknowledging the community impact have gained traction.
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Cross-State Spread: Travel between Texas and neighboring states has facilitated further transmission.
- Personal belief exemptions have increased steadily since 2015.
- Some counties report exemption rates as high as 10%, enough to seriously compromise herd immunity.
- The false association between vaccines and autism, repeatedly disproven in large-scale studies, continues to haunt public health efforts.
- Even as a general knowledge, think critically about Autism and vaccinology (how can it cause something like autism? Autism could very well be a genetic disease. Around 80% of autism cases are due to inherited genetic mutations).
The result: a growing number of communities vulnerable to outbreaks not only of measles, but of other vaccine-preventable diseases.
The Texas Department of State Health Services has issued urgent appeals for vaccination, but reversing years of misinformation is a daunting task.
The Dangerous Myth of “Measles Parties”
One particularly harmful trend has resurfaced alongside measles outbreaks: “measles parties.” Some parents, mistrustful of vaccines, deliberately expose their healthy children to infected individuals in the misguided belief that natural infection is safer or better than vaccination.
This practice is not only dangerous but also scientifically and socially irresponsible.
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Natural measles infection can cause severe complications like pneumonia, encephalitis, blindness, and even death (we just witnessed the two deaths of children in Texas).
- Measles infection can cause immune amnesia, erasing previous immune memory.
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Exposing children deliberately spreads the virus to others — including vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants, cancer patients and immunocompromised patients.
- No guarantee of immunity: Some children exposed this way still do not develop lifelong immunity — and suffer unnecessary risks in the process.
Vaccination provides robust and safe immunity without the devastating risks of natural infection.
Public health officials strongly condemn measles parties as reckless and emphasize that vaccination remains the safest way to gain immunity.
According to a systematic review, measles remains more contagious than COVID-19. An extremely high level of vaccination (~95%) is necessary to maintain herd immunity.
Why Herd Immunity Matters
Herd immunity protects:
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Infants too young for vaccination
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Individuals medically unable to be vaccinated
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People whose immune systems don’t mount strong vaccine responses
When herd immunity thresholds collapse, even vaccinated individuals are at higher risk during outbreaks
A National Problem: Measles Cases Across the U.S.
While Texas bears the brunt, other states are feeling the impact:
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New Mexico: 66 confirmed cases, including one death.
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New York: 4 confirmed cases, sparking renewed vaccination drives.
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New Jersey: 3 confirmed cases.
In total, 884 cases have been reported across 29 states — the largest measles outbreak since 1994. Experts warn that if vaccination rates continue to erode, measles could become endemic in the United States again.
The Real Dangers of Measles: Not Just a Rash
Measles is not a “mild” disease. The complications can be life-threatening:
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Pneumonia: The most common cause of death from measles in young children.
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Encephalitis: Swelling of the brain, leading to convulsions, deafness, or intellectual disability.
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Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis (SSPE): A rare but fatal brain disorder that can occur 7 to 10 years after measles infection.
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Blindness, severe diarrhea, and malnutrition are additional risks, especially in vulnerable populations.
Children under five and adults over twenty are at the highest risk for severe complications.
Why the Resurgence Now?
Several factors have converged to create a perfect storm:
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Vaccine Misinformation
False claims linking the MMR vaccine to autism, despite overwhelming scientific evidence disproving them, have led some parents to forgo vaccinations. -
Global Travel
Measles knows no borders. An infected traveler from a country experiencing an outbreak can ignite a domestic chain reaction. -
COVID-19 Pandemic Aftershocks
Routine vaccination rates fell globally during the pandemic, creating immunity gaps now being exploited by viruses like measles. -
Complacency
As measles became rare, so did fear of it — leading some to underestimate its seriousness.
Global Implications of U.S. Measles Resurgence
The resurgence of measles in the United States has global consequences:
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Travel risks: U.S. travelers can carry the virus abroad, sparking outbreaks elsewhere.
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Loss of elimination status: If outbreaks persist, the U.S. could lose its measles elimination certification (almost happened in 2019) — a major public health setback for global health efforts.
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Weakening global vaccination momentum: As vaccine skepticism spreads, it threatens efforts in countries still fighting to control measles and other infectious diseases.
The World Health Organization has warned that declining MMR coverage worldwide could result in hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths over the next decade.
Fighting Back: What Needs to Happen
To prevent measles from regaining a foothold, a coordinated response is essential.
1. Rebuilding Trust in Vaccination
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Transparent communication about vaccine safety and efficacy
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Outreach efforts in hesitant communities
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Partnerships with trusted community leaders and healthcare providers
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Joining The Scrutinizer: A guardian for truth in a world clouded by misinformation
2. Rapid Outbreak Response
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Aggressive contact tracing
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Isolation of infected individuals
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Emergency vaccination clinics
3. Stronger Public Health Policies
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Ensuring that non-medical vaccine exemptions are not abused
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Enforcing school vaccination requirements
- Verifying vaccination records, ensuring complete MMR vaccination
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Having open discussions with trusted healthcare providers
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Supporting policies that strengthen evidence-based vaccination programs.
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Sharing scientifically accurate information to counter misinformation.
4. Global Collaboration
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Support for vaccination efforts in low- and middle-income countries
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Global data sharing and outbreak monitoring
Measles anywhere can become measles everywhere in today’s interconnected world. Choosing vaccination protects entire communities — not just individuals.
Texas Takes Action — But Is It Enough?
In response to the outbreak, Texas health authorities have:
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Opened pop-up vaccination sites in affected counties
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Partnered with local religious leaders to promote immunization
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Launched a statewide public education campaign emphasizing measles dangers
However, combating years of eroded trust takes time. Health experts stress that unless vaccination rates rise swiftly and sustainably, Texas — and the U.S. — could face annual measles seasons, much like flu.
Conclusion
The resurgence of measles in 2025 is not just an infectious disease story — it’s a test of our collective commitment to science, public health, and community responsibility. Texas’s experience serves as a potent reminder: diseases once controlled can return if we let our guard down.
Vaccines are not just personal protection. They are a shield for society’s most vulnerable — newborns, the immunocompromised, and those who cannot be vaccinated for legitimate medical reasons. Protecting them means protecting all of us.
Final Thoughts
The resurgence of measles is not a medical failure — it’s a societal one.
It reflects the consequences of eroded trust, unchecked misinformation, and individualism unchecked by community responsibility. It reminds us that science and compassion must walk hand-in-hand — that truth matters, and that public health is a collective endeavor.
But it can be reversed.
With vigilance, education, renewed commitment to vaccination, and and the courage to reject misinformation, measles can once again be pushed back into history.
But it will take all of us — together.
The tools to stop measles are in our hands. The question is: will we use them?
What do you think?
This article was prepared by The Scrutinizer.
At The Scrutinizer, we believe that truth saves lives. Our mission is to bring clear, science-based education to the public — so that together, we can protect what matters most.
Learn more at thescrutinizer.org
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