All of the cases are in unvaccinated people or those who have unknown vaccination status. Most cases are in children 5 to 17 years old. All experienced an onset of symptoms in the past three weeks.
Among the 48 cases, 13 have been hospitalized.
Two measles cases were also
reported in bordering Lea County, New Mexico, on Friday, bringing the total there this week to three. The first case involved an unvaccinated teenager, and the vaccination status in the other cases is unknown.
Measles is a highly contagious airborne illness that can cause rash, fever, red eyes and cough. Severe cases can result in blindness, pneumonia or encephalitis, swelling of the brain. In some cases, the illness can be fatal.
Coverage of the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is particularly low in Gaines County, where nearly 1 in 5 incoming kindergartners in the 2023-24 school year did not get the vaccine. The 18% vaccine exemption rate for the county is one of the highest in the state, according to data from the Texas health department.