NBC News
Six young children from a nursery in Lubbock, Texas, have tested positive for the measles test, a terrifying scenario with the potential to accelerate an out of control that has extended at least two other states.
More than a dozen states and Washington DC are dealing with measles cases not related to the Texas outbreak.
This Friday, the Texas State Health Services Department said that the number of confirmed cases increased to 481, an increase of 14 % compared to last week. A total of 56 people have been hospitalized in the area since the disease began to spread at the end of January.
In the Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, a center with approximately 230 babies, young children and children of preschool age, the outbreak began on March 24, when a girl who had been sick with fever and vomiting gave positive to measles. He had to be hospitalized later by pneumonia and difficulty breathing.
Children who have positive in the nursery so far have Between 5 months and 3 yearssaid Maegan Messick, co -owner of the center. None was completely vaccinated against measles.
For almost two weeks, Messick has been working with local health officials who are in contact with the centers for disease control and prevention (CDC) about the situation. Messick said they have not given a clear orientation on how to face measles in such a large nursery with so many vulnerable children.
“From what they have told me, the CDCs do not have a manual for this,” said Messick. “We have had to make decisions based on our criteria.”
The United States faces the greatest measles outbreak in six years, but CDC have remained relatively quiet On the threat to public health, and have provided only weekly updates on their website and sent an alert to doctors last month. The agency sent 2,000 doses of the Triple Viral vaccine to Texas health officials at the request of these, but has not celebrated a press conference on measles since 2019, when two major outbreaks in New York threatened to reverse the achievement of the United States of eliminating the virus.
A spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS, in English), which is above the CDC, did not answer a question about whether informative sessions were being prepared to address the current measles outbreak.
It was not clear if mass dismissals in HHS and CDC this week could hinder such efforts. But the strong fund cuts to the community health departments announced last week have already forced some areas to cancel vaccination clinics.
Dallas County, for example, had to cancel more than 50 clinics. Many had planned for schools in areas with low vaccination rates.
According to a NBC News count, 628 measles cases have been reported nationwide in 2025. Other states with outbreaks include kansas with 23 cases, Oklahoma with 10 cases and New Mexico with 54 cases. Public health officials in OHIO have identified 17.
The cases in the Lubbock nursery are probably related to the epicenter of the outbreak, Gaines County, said Lubbock Public Health Director Katherine Wells.
Wells pointed out that he is concerned about the spread of cases in the nurseries since the beginning of the outbreak.
“I think there will be additional outbreaks in other nurseries”said. ‘This will not be the only one. “
Messick, from the Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, declared that she and her staff are trying to reduce the risk of greater propagation through a nearby observation of children to detect symptoms and isolation of certain classrooms.
They are also urging other child care centers to encourage their families to get vaccinated against measles, papers and rubella. Families have been asked not to vaccinate their children to keep them at home for at least 21 days.
According to CDC, Two doses are usually enough to protect for life against measles. Non -vaccinated people who are exposed to the virus have almost guaranteed infected.
The first dose is not usually administered until after the first year of life, but can be offered before, at 6 months.
“That is the best thing the nurser owners can do at this time,” said Messick. “It is already coming (measles). There is no way to avoid it.”
