On Wednesday, Feb. 26, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported the first death from measles in the United States since 2015 – a result of an outbreak in West Texas involving 146 cases.
Measles, a highly contagious respiratory illness, can be transmitted by direct contact with infectious droplets or by airborne spread. Its high transmissibility has caused a spread over several West Texas counties and now into eastern New Mexico.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), just one infected patient can spread measles up to nine out of 10 close contacts. In 2000, measles was declared eliminated from the United States, but was still commonly transmitted from other countries.
As of Feb. 27, the CDC has reported a total of 164 measles cases over nine jurisdictions, including Alaska, California, Georgia, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York City, Rhode Island and Texas.
Dr. George Rust, director of Florida State University’s Center for Medicine and Public Health, is an academic public health expert. He also serves as medical director for six local county public health departments. Last year, Rust’s expertise was provided when Broward County in Florida had a small outbreak of measles in an elementary school.
Rust created a 2025 fact sheet for addressing important questions about measles that is accessible to the public.
Media inquiries on the recent measles outbreak can reach Dr. Rust at george.rust@med.fsu.edu.