Dennis Wang, Courtney C. Rogers, Chelsea S. Lutz, Elizabeth T. Sajewski, Sadia Almas, Nakia Clemmons, Kimberly A. Gressick, Cynthia Hernandez, Zach Holbrooks, Mehgan T. Kidd, Diana L. Martínez, Kevin McClaran, Erica Mendoza, John S. Milton, Kelly D. Northcott, Kelley Raines, Saroj Rai, Katherine Wells, David Sugerman, Carolyn Crisp, Varun Shetty, Thomas D. Filardo, Jennifer A. Shuford
Measles is a highly infectious respiratory virus with the potential to cause severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death. On January 29, 2025, the Texas Department of State Health Services Public Health Region 1 was notified by the South Plains Public Health District of a case of measles in an unvaccinated school-aged child. During January 20-March 18, 2025, a total of 325 confirmed measles cases were reported; 60 (18.5%) patients were hospitalized. Available medical records for 54 hospitalized patients were reviewed; 49 (90.7%) were aged <18 years, and 48 (88.9%) had no underlying medical conditions. All 54 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Hospitalized patients were admitted for a median of 2 days (range = 0-20 days) and many experienced complications, including pneumonia (39; 72.2%), dehydration (25; 46.3%), hepatitis (one; 1.9%), and febrile seizures (one; 1.9%). Thirty-eight (70.4%) hospitalized patients required supplemental oxygen, four (7.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, two (3.7%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and one (1.9%) died. Although most persons with confirmed measles were not hospitalized, approximately one in five required hospitalization, consistent with previously reported rates. Vaccination remains a critical tool for the prevention of measles infection and severe disease.