The Texas measles outbreak seems to be tapering off after the number of U.S. measles infections more than tripled 2024’s case count.
On May 16, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported only one new measles infection since its previous update. In total, the state health department has reported 718 confirmed cases and two deaths among unvaccinated, school-aged children. Early May saw 709 confirmed measles cases in Texas.
Across 30 states, the CDC reported 1,024 total measles cases in 2025, as of May 16.
Katherine Well, DrPH, public health director of Lubbock County, told Bloomberg uptake of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine has factored into this deceleration in new infections. Lubbock County has 52 confirmed measles infections, accounting for about 7% of the outbreak.
Although the county has had zero reported measles cases in the last four days — its longest streak so far — it needs 42 consecutive days of this trend to deem the outbreak as resolved.
“Compared to a forest fire, we are still seeing some embers,” Dr. Wells told Bloomberg.
