WASHINGTON — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that more than 90% of people hospitalized during the first two months of the 2025 measles outbreak in West Texas were children, according to a report based on medical records from patients hospitalized between Jan. 20 and March 18, 2025.
The CDC reviewed medical records from 54 of the 60 people hospitalized during the period.
The report found that more than half of the hospitalized patients were younger than 4 years old. Among the five adults who required hospitalization, four were pregnant.
Two of the pregnant patients gave birth while hospitalized for measles. Both newborns tested positive for measles within two days of birth.
Among the hospitalized patients, more than 70% developed pneumonia. Nearly 70% experienced hypoxia, or low blood oxygen levels. Seventy percent required supplemental oxygen.
Four children were admitted to intensive care units. Two children required intubation and mechanical ventilation. One child died during the period covered by the report.
The CDC reported that all patients included in the review were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.
The West Texas measles outbreak continued through Aug. 18, 2025. Health authorities confirmed 762 measles cases during the outbreak.
The outbreak resulted in 99 hospitalizations. Another child died later in the outbreak, bringing the total number of deaths to two.
