WASHINGTON — The number of confirmed measles cases in Texas is growing, breaking 100 on Tuesday. The spike raises concerns about the rapid spread of a highly-contagious illness that was once eradicated in the U.S. Most of the cases are in people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown.

The first measles death in the West Texas outbreak was confirmed Wednesday.

Dr. Lara Johnson, a pediatrician and chief medical officer of Covenant Health in Lubbock, said more than a dozen children have been hospitalized there with measles. She said there have also been adult cases, including a pregnant woman.

“It wasn't that long ago that we thought measles was a thing of the past,” Johnson told Spectrum News. “This is certainly a new reality for us, and you know, unfortunately, I think we're just at the beginning of this outbreak.”

The number of confirmed measles cases jumped to 124, according to an update Tuesday by the Texas Department of State Health Services. The reported cases are along the border with New Mexico and are mostly affecting children younger than 18 years old. The highest number of cases, 80, are in Gaines County, where the outbreak started.

“The measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has been primarily centered in a Mennonite community in Gaines County,” a U.S. Health and Human Services spokesperson told Spectrum News. “CDC continues to closely monitor the outbreak and work with Texas and New Mexico state health officials to ensure they can support impacted communities.

In New Mexico, the measles case count Tuesday stayed at nine.

Already, Texas has reported more cases in 2025 than in any other year since 1992, when the number of cases was more than 1,000.

“These kinds of outbreaks show us that we're really not necessarily past this vaccine-preventable illnesses that we may have thought and these kinds of illnesses, you know, we need to continue to be vigilant and continue to recognize that these are ongoing threats, especially if our vaccination rates continue to decline,” Johnson said.

Measles is one of the most contagious respiratory viruses that can stay in the air for up to two hours.

Of the 124 cases in Texas, five people were vaccinated, and the rest were unvaccinated or their vaccine status was unknown.

Childhood vaccination rates have declined in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to U.S. health officials.

Vaccine skepticism was at the center of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s contentious confirmation hearings to be Secretary of Health and Human Services. At the hearing, Kennedy told Senators, "I support the measles vaccine. I support the polio vaccine. I will do nothing as HHS secretary that makes it difficult or discourages people from taking either of those vaccines.”

Last week, recently confirmed Kennedy told staff he would review vaccine schedules for children, as well as pesticides, food additives, microplastics, antidepressants and the electromagnetic waves emitted by cellphones and microwaves.

“Nothing is going to be off limits. Whatever belief or suspicion I have expressed in the past, I'm willing to subject them all to the scrutiny of unbiased science,” Kennedy said.

Johnson, who is proud of how her hospital has responded to the unexpected issue, said vaccines are a powerful public health intervention, and the best way to eliminate the risk of contracting measles. Johnson, who is the mother of two teenagers, said she understand parents want to do what they believe is best for their children.

“Whatever reason, as I said, vaccines are polarizing, and sometimes people hear a lot of you know different information and a lot of concerns about vaccines that aren't based in the science or in the evidence,” Johnson said. “My hope is just that, you know, people will continue to seek out the best answers and the best evidence about vaccines, talk to their physicians, ask their questions.”

“My job is to share, be honest with them, communicate as well as I can, always approach them with compassion and just share the information that I know to be true,” Johnson continued.

The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine is considered safe and effective, and the first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old. The second shot is recommended between 4 and 6 years old. All 50 states have required kids to get the MMR vaccine before entering kindergarten in public schools.

A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tells Spectrum News the agency is aware of the ongoing measles outbreak in Texas. The CDC is providing technical assistance, laboratory support and vaccines as needed with state health officials.