The crisis is expanding.
On Wednesday, a woman in labor gave birth at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, amid a rapidly spreading and deadly measles outbreak. It wasn’t until after she was admitted that doctors discovered she was infected with the highly contagious virus.
By then, other mothers, newborns, and their families at University Medical Center Children’s Hospital had already been exposed to the virus, which is known for its high transmission rate.
Hospital staff quickly initiated emergency measures, including masking protocols and administering immunoglobulin injections to newborns as young as three days old. This antibody treatment helps support their underdeveloped immune systems in fighting off infections. A 2021 study confirmed that this therapy is highly effective in protecting exposed newborns from contracting the virus.
“These babies had no choice in their exposure,” said Chad Curry, training chief at University Medical Center EMS. “But at this point, it’s the best way we can protect them.”
Curry and hospital officials were unable to provide an exact number of newborns affected. It’s also unclear when the mother was confirmed to have measles. Health officials are making efforts to notify everyone who might have come into contact with the patient, as the virus can linger in the air and on surfaces for up to two hours.
This development marks a significant challenge for public health authorities working to contain the outbreak. Earlier in the week, Katherine Wells, Lubbock’s public health director, expressed optimism that the situation was under control, as the number of cases appeared to have plateaued. Medical facilities had been vigilant in keeping potential measles cases isolated from other patients.
However, Wells admitted in a Friday interview that the birth of the infected mother “feels like we’re back to square one.” The outbreak has now spread beyond Texas and New Mexico, with two cases confirmed in Oklahoma. New Mexico has reported 35 cases so far.
West Texas remains the center of the outbreak, which began last month. As of Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 259 cases of measles, with the majority (201) affecting children and teenagers.
A 6-year-old girl in Gaines County, Texas, has died from the virus, and another death in an adult from New Mexico is under investigation. Neither of the individuals had been vaccinated.
The current outbreak has already surpassed the total number of measles cases reported in 2024. Curry, who has been administering immunoglobulin injections to newborns, emphasized that these babies will still need to receive the measles vaccine once they are old enough.
“The treatment only provides short-term protection,” he said. “They still need to be vaccinated for full and lasting protection.”
