The Texas Department of State Health Services is reporting an outbreak of measles in the South Plains region of Texas. Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health to investigate the outbreak. 

Additional information for the public and health care providers is available at dshs.texas.gov/news-alerts/measles-outbreak-feb-18-2025

Resources

More information about measles can be found at dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles-rubeola

A complete communications guide can be found at dshs.texas.gov/vaccine-preventable-diseases/measles-rubeola/measles-communication-toolkit

A typical case of measles begins with mild to moderate fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and sore throat. Two or three days after symptoms begin, tiny blue-white spots (Koplik spots) may appear inside the mouth. Koplik spots are considered to be unique to measles. A red or reddish-brown rash appears three to five days after symptoms start. The rash usually begins on a person’s face at the hairline and spreads downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and feet. When the rash appears, a person’s fever may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit. 

• Early, non-specific symptoms lasts two to four days (range, one to seven days) 
  • Stepwise increase in fever to 103°F–105°F 
  • Cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis 
  • Koplik spots (on mucous membranes) 
• Rash 
  • Persists five to six days 
  • Begins at the hairline, then involves the face and upper neck 
  • Proceeds downward and outward to hands and feet 
  • Severe areas peel off in scales 
  • Fades in order of appearance 

Measles is a highly contagious virus that lives in an infected person's nose and throat. Measles transmission occurs person-to-person when that person sneezes or coughs, droplets spray into the air and can infect people around him.  

Measles is highly contagious; 90% of the people close to an infected person who are not immune will become infected with the measles virus.  

Also, the measles virus can live for up to two hours in an airspace where the infected person coughs or sneezes. If other people breathe the contaminated air or touch the infected surface, then touch their eyes, noses, or mouths, they can become infected. 

Measles is the most communicable during the three to four days preceding rash onset. Persons with measles have been known to can pass the virus between four days before a rash is noticed and up to four days after.