Study details severity of Texas measles outbreak, high hospitalization rate
A new study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by state and federal researchers provides a detailed analysis of last year’s measles outbreak that began in West Texas. The analysis, focusing on the first three months of the outbreak, reveals that about 20 percent of infected people were hospitalized, with younger children most affected. Among 325 cases examined from January 20 to March 18, 2025, at least 60 individuals were hospitalized, representing 18.5 percent of cases. Medical records from 54 of those hospitalized patients showed that none had a record of being vaccinated. The hospitalized group included 30 children aged newborn to 4 years, 19 children aged 5 to 17, and five adults, four of whom were pregnant women in their third trimester. The researchers concluded that the outbreak underscores the seriousness of measles and its potential for life-threatening complications affecting multiple organ systems. The article reporting the study also noted that the outbreak totaled 762 cases in Texas alone.
What’s reported
The study was published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Analysis covered 325 outbreak-related cases from January 20 to March 18, 2025.
At least 60 of those cases (18.5%) resulted in hospitalization.
All 54 hospitalized patients with available medical records had no record of vaccination.
Of those 54 patients, 30 were children aged 0–4 years, 19 were children aged 5–17, and 5 were adults (including 4 pregnant women in their third trimester).
The outbreak eventually included 762 cases in Texas.
The study’s authors stated that measles can cause life-threatening complications affecting multiple organ systems.
Misconceptions
The article addresses the misconception that measles is “just a rash,” noting that the data show serious complications and high hospitalization rates, particularly among unvaccinated children.
Key figures
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (Health Secretary, mentioned in the article as having downplayed measles)
State and federal researchers (study authors, not individually named)
Sources: Ars Technica
