Texas Announces End of Measles Outbreak

The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS ) announced Monday that the measles outbreak centered in West Texas has ended, following a 42-day period without new cases in counties with prior evidence of ongoing transmission. In total, the outbreak included 762 confirmed cases, 99 hospitalizations and two fatalities.

While officials consider the Texas outbreak to be over, they cautioned that additional cases in the state are likely due to ongoing measles outbreaks in the U.S. and internationally. They urged care providers to remain vigilant and test for measles if patients have symptoms compatible with the virus.

Resources for Blood Collectors

To support transfusion medicine professionals during outbreaks, AABB developed a measles information and resources toolkit. While transfusion-transmitted measles remains a theoretical risk, special attention is warranted for immuno-compromised recipients, as primary viremia may occur before symptom onset. For additional information, consult the measles fact sheet developed by the Emerging Infectious Disease Subgroup, published in a 2024 Transfusion supplement.