Characteristics of Patients Hospitalized with Measles During an Outbreak - West Texas, January-March 2025

Measles is a highly infectious respiratory virus with the potential to cause severe illness resulting in hospitalization or death. On January 29, 2025, the Texas Department of State Health Services Public Health Region 1 was notified by the South Plains Public Health District of a case of measles in an unvaccinated school-aged child. During January 20-March 18, 2025, a total of 325 confirmed measles cases were reported; 60 (18.5%) patients were hospitalized. Available medical records for 54 hospitalized patients were reviewed; 49 (90.7%) were aged <18 years, and 48 (88.9%) had no underlying medical conditions. All 54 were unvaccinated or had unknown vaccination status. Hospitalized patients were admitted for a median of 2 days (range = 0-20 days) and many experienced complications, including pneumonia (39; 72.2%), dehydration (25; 46.3%), hepatitis (one; 1.9%), and febrile seizures (one; 1.9%). Thirty-eight (70.4%) hospitalized patients required supplemental oxygen, four (7.4%) were admitted to an intensive care unit, two (3.7%) required intubation and mechanical ventilation, and one (1.9%) died. Although most persons with confirmed measles were not hospitalized, approximately one in five required hospitalization, consistent with previously reported rates. Vaccination remains a critical tool for the prevention of measles infection and severe disease.