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A measles outbreak that exploded in West Texas at the start of the year is over, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services, marking the end of the largest measles outbreak the U.S. has seen in 30 years<\/a>.<\/p>\n The outbreak was declared over Monday morning. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n Getty ImagesKey Facts<\/p>\n The department said in a statement<\/a> it has been more than 42 days since a new case was reported in the impacted counties.<\/p>\n As of Monday, 762 cases were confirmed in the outbreak that hospitalized 99 people and resulted in the deaths of two school-aged children.<\/p>\n Children were most impacted by the outbreak, accounting for at least 511 cases.<\/p>\n Health officials considered the outbreak over following the 42-day period of no cases because the window of time is double the disease\u2019s maximum incubation period, the longest time it can take between a person\u2019s exposure to measles and when they get sick.<\/p>\n The Department of State Health Services noted the outbreak\u2019s end \u201cdoes not mean the threat of measles is over,\u201d adding it is \u201clikely\u201d there will be more measles cases in Texas this year.<\/p>\n Get Forbes Breaking News Text Alerts<\/strong>: We\u2019re launching text message alerts so you’ll always know the biggest stories shaping the day\u2019s headlines. Text \u201cAlerts\u201d to (201) 335-0739 or sign up here<\/a>.<\/p>\n Where Was The Texas Measles Outbreak Concentrated?<\/p>\n Mainly West Texas, with Gaines County recording 414 cases. Other counties with the high numbers of cases included Terry (60), El Paso (59) and Lubbock (52).<\/p>\n Where Else Have Measles Cases Been Reported This Year?<\/p>\n The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported<\/a> 1,356 measles cases in 40 states. States with the highest numbers of cases outside of Texas include New Mexico (100) and Kansas (90). New Mexico, where most cases were reported in a county along the Texas border, reported the only other measles death this year back in March. <\/p>\n Is Measles Still Spreading Outside Texas?<\/p>\n Measles cases are rising in New Mexico, where cases reached 100 after three new cases were reported in Santa Fe County last week. <\/p>\n What Are Measles Symptoms?<\/p>\n Measles, a highly contagious illness, is characterized by symptoms like rash, fever, fatigue, runny nose and red eyes. The symptoms do not show until 10 to 14 days after exposure and in some cases appear as late as 21 days after being exposed. <\/p>\n Surprising Fact<\/p>\n In Texas, vaccinated people made up just 44 of the recorded measles cases, while 718 of the cases were reported in unvaccinated people. Measles vaccinations, which have been available for over 50 years, can prevent and help fight measles symptoms. The vaccine is usually provided to children between 12 and 15 months and again between four to six years old, generally providing lifetime or long-term protection from the illness. <\/p>\n Tangent<\/p>\n The Texas Department of State Health Services said in a 2024-2025 report of student immunization status that 6.76% of Texas kindergarteners did not receive the measles vaccine.<\/p>\n Key Background<\/p>\n The Texas measles outbreak began a few weeks before vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. became the secretary of health and human services. Kennedy initially said the Texas outbreak was \u201cnot unusual,\u201d but eventually called it \u201cserious\u201d as cases increased into March. Kennedy told CBS News<\/a> the \u201cfederal government’s position, my position, is that people should get the measles vaccine,\u201d though he also encouraged the use of vitamin A to treat measles, stoking concern among health officials like Sue Kressly, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, who told The Washington Post<\/a> relying solely on vitamin A instead of the measles vaccine is \u201cdangerous and ineffective,\u201d noting too much vitamin A can \u201ccause serious health problems, including liver damage.\u201d<\/p>\n Further Reading<\/p>\n