Medically Reviewed and approved by Dr. Steven Elsbecker, DO

Why now is the time to check your vaccination status—and what could happen if you don’t.

It’s hard to believe we’re saying this in 2025, but measles is back—and it’s deadly.

This isn’t just a few isolated cases. Texas is facing the largest measles outbreak in more than 30 years, with 753 confirmed cases and two heartbreaking deaths in children. Nearly all of them were unvaccinated.

This virus, once considered eliminated in the U.S., is spreading fast and far—especially among kids. And what’s worse? It didn’t have to happen.

If you’re reading this, please take a moment to ask yourself: Am I vaccinated against measles? Are my kids vaccinated against this dangerous disease? If you’re not sure—or you know you’re not—don’t wait. Go. Get vaccinated. Today.

What’s Happening Right Now?

The outbreak started quietly in West Texas earlier this year. Within weeks, it exploded. Now, it’s spread across ten counties—including Gaines, Lubbock, and Lamar—and touched 38 states across the U.S. Overall, there are more than 1,200 measles cases nationwide, and that number is climbing.

Two Texas children have already died. Both were school-aged and both were unvaccinated.

Let that sink in: Two healthy kids have already died in 2025 from a disease we have a safe, effective vaccine for. Doctors across Texas are seeing kids with high fevers, inflamed eyes, and the telltale red rash. Hospitals have reported nearly 100 measles-related admissions in Texas alone.

Measles Is Not “Mild”—It’s the Most Contagious Virus We Know

If one person has measles, up to 90% of the people around them, if they’re unvaccinated, will catch it too. The virus can linger in the air for two hours after an infected person leaves the room.

Measles is not just a rash and a fever. It can lead to pneumonia, brain swelling (encephalitis), permanent disability and even death. It’s especially dangerous for babies, people with weakened immune systems, and anyone who can’t be vaccinated due to medical conditions.

Why Is Measles Spreading Now?

The simple answer: vaccination rates have dropped—just low enough to crack our herd immunity. In some communities, only 80–85% of children are vaccinated. That’s far below the 95% coverage needed to stop measles in its tracks, according to health experts.

People are skipping vaccines. Some don’t know they need them. Others are misinformed. But the result is the same: measles is spreading, and lives are at risk.

In one West Texas community, a significant portion of children had no record of receiving the MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine. That’s exactly where this outbreak took hold.

Who’s at Risk of Contracting Measles?

The short answer is everyone who isn’t fully vaccinated. That includes:

• Babies under 1 who haven’t had their first MMR shot
• Children who’ve missed vaccines or are behind schedule
• Teens and adults who never got a second dose
• Pregnant women without immunity
• People who think “we don’t need to worry about measles anymore”

Even if you were born before the vaccine was common, your immunity might not be strong enough. Talk to your doctor. Check your records. Don’t assume you are protected.

What You Can Do Right Now

Whether you're a parent, a student, or a physician, you can take action today and help stop this outbreak.

Get Vaccinated

• Children should receive their first MMR shot at 12–15 months and the second at 4–6 years.
• Infants as young as 6 months can get an early dose if they live in or are traveling to outbreak areas.
• Adults born after 1957 should have at least one documented MMR dose—or lab-confirmed immunity.

If You’ve Been Exposed

• Get vaccinated within 72 hours to reduce the severity of illness.
• Watch for symptoms (fever, cough, rash) and call your doctor before showing up in person.
• If unvaccinated, you may be required to quarantine for 21 days to prevent further spread.

 Spread the Word (Not the Virus)

• Share this information with family, friends, and coworkers.
• Direct people to trusted sources like Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Their websites are loaded with useful information that help you and your family deal with measles. You can also share this article among your family and friends and urge them to take action today.
• Be the reason someone chooses to protect their child—and the community.

This Isn’t Just About You

Getting vaccinated isn’t only about protecting yourself—it’s about protecting newborns, cancer patients, pregnant women, and anyone who can’t be vaccinated.

You may feel healthy. But if you’re not immune, you could spread measles before you even feel sick.

Imagine walking into a pediatrician’s office or a church daycare—without knowing you're contagious—and setting off a chain of infections that harms a baby too young for vaccines.

That’s how outbreaks happen.

Where to Get Help

Need a vaccine? Unsure where to go?

• Visit your doctor or pediatrician
• Ask your local pharmacy (many offer MMR shots without a prescription for those 14 and older)
• Call your health department or visit DSHS.texas.gov to find low- or no-cost vaccine providers near you

If you’ve been exposed to someone with measles, don’t wait—call your primary care physician (PCP), your healthcare provider or visit a nearby emergency room or urgent care center now and ask what to do.

All Texas SignatureCare Emergency Center locations in Odessa, Midland, Lewisville, Texarkana, College Station and Killeen are open 24 hours and will gladly answer your questions or treat you and your family for most illnesses including measles. Stop by today!

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Dr. Steven Elsbecker, DO,  is a board-certified emergency medicine specialist based in Austin, TX, and the Regional Medical Director at SignatureCare Emergency Center. He graduated from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University in 2011 and completed his residency in Emergency Medicine at the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV) in 2014. Dr. Elsbecker has contributed to research with publications, including one on the effects of nebulized albuterol published in Academic Emergency Medicine, which has been cited 13 times. Additionally, he has been involved in clinical trials exploring the effects of gaseous albuterol on serum lactate.