Can you get measles if you're vaccinated? Here's what to know after death reported in Texas
- Texas reported its first death from measles on Wednesday, as part of the ongoing outbreak that began in late January.
- The school-aged child who died was not vaccinated and tested positive for measles.
- The majority of the 124 measles cases reported in Texas this year have been in children between five and 17.
The first death in an ongoing measles outbreak has been reported in Texas.
The Texas Department of State Health Services announced the death of a school-aged child on Wednesday morning. The child, who was hospitalized last week, was not vaccinated and tested positive for measles.
As of Tuesday, 124 cases of measles had been confirmed in Texas since the outbreak began in late January, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported. In total, 18 people have been hospitalized and only five reported being vaccinated for the measles.
The outbreak is believed to have originated in an under-vaccinated community in rural West Texas, and has since stretched out across multiple counties and across state lines into New Mexico, where nine cases have been reported.
The majority of Texas cases (62) have been reported in children between the ages of 5-17, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Here's what to know about measles, including how it spreads and how the public can stay protected.
What is measles and how do you get it?
Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory illness; 90% of people who are exposed to somebody with the virus will become infected, according to the CDC.
Measles spreads through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The virus can remain in the air for up to two hours after an infected person has left, the CDC said.
What are measles symptoms?
Measles symptoms typically appear seven to 14 days after exposure. Common symptoms include:
- High fever (may spike to more than 104 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Cough
- Runny nose
- Red, watery eyes
- Rash
- Loss of appetite, diarrhea
- Ear infection
A few days after symptoms begin, an infected person may experience further symptoms. These may include a telltale rash, which breaks out as flat red spots on the face and then spreads down the neck and rest of the body, or koplik spots − tiny, white spots that appear inside the mouth.
Who is most at risk for contracting measles?
According to the CDC, the groups most susceptible include:
- Children younger than 5 years old
- Adults older than 20 years old
- Pregnant people
- People with weakened immune systems
- Unvaccinated people
Can you get measles if you're vaccinated?
Yes, in rare cases. About three out of 100 people who get two doses of the measles vaccine will still get measles if exposed to the virus, according to the CDC.
Experts don't know why vaccinated people can get the virus, but the CDC reports that vaccinated people who become infected are more likely to have milder symptoms and less likely to spread it to others.
Can measles kill you? What are the long-term effects?
Yes, measles can be fatal.
According to the CDC, about one to three in every 1,000 children who gets measles will die from respiratory and neurologic complications.
The measles can also result in pneumonia − about 1 in every 20 children with measles get pneumonia − or encephalitis (swelling of the brain). About 1 child in every 1,000 who gets measles develops encephalitis, which can result in leaving a child deaf or with an intellectual disability, according to the CDC.
Pregnant people who become infected with the measles may have a premature birth or a low-birth-weight baby.
A very rare but long-term condition that can result from the measles is subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. The fatal disease, which attacks the central nervous system, typically develops seven to 10 years after a person had the measles, according to the CDC.
Among people who contracted the measles during the U.S. outbreak in 1989-1991, seven to 11 of every 100,000 were estimated to be at risk for developing subacute sclerosing panencephalitis. Since measles was eliminated in 2000, though, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis has rarely been reported in the U.S., according to the CDC.
How many people contracted measles in the US last year?
According to the CDC, 285 people contracted the measles in 2024, with 42% of those cases reported in children under the age of five.
Why is measles coming back?
Although measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, outbreaks continue to occur due to unvaccinated international travelers, according to the CDC. In 2019, the U.S. almost lost its elimination status when nearly 1,300 measles cases were reported in more than 30 states. After a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic, measles activity continues to be on the rise.
What is the measles vaccine and when should you get it?
The best way to protect against measles is by getting the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Children may get the measles, mumps, rubella and varicella (MMRV) vaccine instead, which also protects against chickenpox.
For children, both the MMR and MMRV vaccines are given in two doses. Traditionally, the first dose is given to a child between 12-15 months old, and then the second dose is administered between 4-6 years old, according to the CDC.
Older children, adolescents and even adults who don't have evidence of immunity should get two doses of the MMR vaccine.
Who needs a measles booster?
People who have received two doses of the measles vaccine do not need a booster, the CDC says. If you are unsure if you are vaccinated for the measles, talk to your healthcare provider.
Contributing: Eduardo Cuevas, Paste BN
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at Paste BN. Follow her on X and Instagram @gretalcross. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.