Texas doctors are expressing concerns regarding the potential spread of measles to population centers due to an ongoing outbreak, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) anticipates will “expand rapidly.” The outbreak has already caused two deaths, including that of a child, and has affected at least 208 people across western Texas and New Mexico after beginning in rural Gaines County. Lubbock, a significant medical and shopping hub, is particularly concerning since many people from western Texas visit the area. Local physicians like Dr. Ron Cook and Dr. Philip Huang are worried about the rapid spread of the disease, especially considering that the outbreak’s curve is still on the incline. The situation serves as a critical test for the new health secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr, who has been a longtime critic of vaccines. The measles vaccine is 97% effective and could significantly reduce the spread of the disease. Despite this, anti-vaccine activism and misinformation regarding alternative treatments, such as vitamins and good nutrition, continue to pose challenges to vaccination efforts.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/12/texas-measles-outbreak-spread