Texas measles outbreak grows to 48 cases, the state’s worst in nearly 30 years. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Texas' measles outbreak is up to 90 cases. Here's what you need to know about the virus, vaccination and boosters.

The outbreak is primarily affecting West Texas, but officials in San Antonio, New Braunfels and San Marcos are monitoring cases after an infected person recently visited the area, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.

The U.S. declared measles eliminated in 2000 "thanks to a very high percentage of people receiving the safe and effective measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine," the CDC said, but now U.S. coverage among children of kindergarten age is below the 95 percent coverage target, which creates a higher risk for outbreaks of the virus.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed this is the first measles death in the country since 2015.

A child who tested positive for measles died in West Texas, the state health department said, marking the first death in an outbreak that has sickened nearly 140 people. The Texas Department of State Health Services said a school-age child died after being hospitalized in Lubbock.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said that the Department of Health and Human Services is “watching” the outbreak, which he described as “not unusual” during a meeting of Trump’s cabinet members.