Texas Measles Outbreak Threatens U.S. Elimination Status

A major measles outbreak is ongoing in the U.S., with Texas at the epicenter, reporting 561 cases across 23 counties and at least two child fatalities, mostly involving unvaccinated individuals. The CDC has dispatched teams to Texas to help, but response efforts are challenged by federal funding cuts to infectious disease control. New Mexico has reported 63 cases across four counties, including one death, with most cases linked to the Texas outbreak. Kansas and Tennessee have also seen cases, though Tennessee reports no sustained community transmission. Health officials stress that the majority of cases involve unvaccinated children and highlight the critical need for vaccination. Experts warn that if the Texas outbreak persists into 2026, the U.S. could lose its measles elimination status, held since 2000.