Measles Outbreak in Texas and New Mexico Sickens Nearly 100 People

Outbreaks of measles in parts of Texas and New Mexico have sickened nearly 100 people, according to state health officials who warned that the number of cases was expected to rise.An outbreak has been spreading through the South Plains region of Texas since late January, the Texas Department of State Health Services said on Friday.Measles vaccination rates in the region lag significantly below federal targets.On Friday, the department confirmed 90 cases of measles, with at least 77 of them being children.

Sixteen people have been hospitalized, the department said.The cases come amid growing concerns by public health experts about declining vaccination rates and the confirmation of Robert F.Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic, as the nation’s health secretary.Mr.

Kennedy, who has cited disputed research on the side-effects of vaccines, has vowed to scrutinize childhood vaccines.In Texas, a majority of the cases have been concentrated in Gaines County, a farming area close to the New Mexico border.In only five of the 90 cases were patients vaccinated against measles.

The rest were unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status, the department said.We are having trouble retrieving the article content.Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.If you are in Reader mode please exit and log into your Times account, or subscribe for all of The Times.Thank you for your patience while we verify access.Already a subscriber? Log in.Want all of The Times? Subscribe....