More Measles Numbers....

New measles numbers just came out yesterday (March 27th). Being in the business of strategy and research, I lean on facts supported by data. The following are a few observations.

In 2025, the United States is up to 378 confirmed cases. Measles has been reported in 17 states. 327 of the 378 confirmed cases are in Texas. Among those cases, 40 have been hospitalized with one fatality. The number of cases in 2025 now exceed all cases in 2024.

Texas’ MMR (Measles, Mumps, and Rubella) vaccination rates are about the same as the rest of the country. But, the rural areas of west Texas are remarkably lower. Gaines County has the most cases. Not surprising, it reports lower rates of the MMR vaccination.

Nearly 14% of K-12 students in Gaines County opted out of at least one required vaccine during the 2023-2024 school year. This figure likely underrepresents the true exemption rate, as it does not account for homeschooled children or those in private religious schools, where vaccination rates may be even lower. One school district reports less than half of their kindergartners have been vaccinated. Further, a Mennonite community in Gaines County that has been historically resistant to vaccinations has incurred 159 of Texas’ 327 cases, including the one fatality.

Yet to be reported among this community are the unvaccinated pregnant women who contract measles. They are particularly vulnerable. Measles can lead to higher incidents of miscarriages (20 - 25%), preterm births (15-50%), neonatal care, neurological damage, and immune system suppressions, among others.