Measles Outbreak Spreads to Daycare, Fueling Texas Crisis

A concerning measles outbreak has gripped Lubbock, Texas, with six young children at a day care center testing positive for the highly contagious disease. This alarming development threatens to exacerbate an already widespread outbreak that has extended to at least two other states, casting a shadow of uncertainty over communities across the nation.

According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, the number of confirmed measles cases in Texas has surged to 481, representing a 14% increase from the previous week. The disease's relentless spread since late January has resulted in the hospitalization of 56 individuals in the area.

At the Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, a day care center with approximately 230 infants, toddlers, and preschool-age children, the outbreak originated on March 24 when a young girl exhibiting symptoms of fever and vomiting tested positive for measles. Her condition subsequently deteriorated, necessitating hospitalization due to pneumonia and respiratory distress.

Day Care Outbreak Raises Alarm Bells

The confirmed cases at the day care center encompass children between the ages of 5 months and 3 years old, all of whom were not fully vaccinated against measles. Maegan Messick, a co-owner of the center, revealed that for nearly two weeks, she has been collaborating with local health officials who are in communication with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding the situation.

Messick expressed her concerns about the lack of clear guidance from the CDC on managing measles outbreaks in large day care settings with vulnerable children. "From what I'm being told, the CDC doesn't have a playbook for this," she stated. "We've just had to make judgment calls."

National Measles Outbreak: A Growing Public Health Concern

The United States is currently experiencing its largest measles outbreak in six years, with 628 cases reported nationwide in 2025, according to an NBC News tally. Kansas has reported 23 cases, Oklahoma has recorded 10 cases, and New Mexico has identified 54 cases. Public health officials in Ohio have also reported 17 cases.

The cases at the Lubbock day care center are believed to be linked to the epicenter of the outbreak in Gaines County, according to Katherine Wells, Lubbock's public health director. Wells has expressed concerns about the spread of measles in child care centers since the outset of the outbreak and anticipates additional outbreaks in other facilities.

Efforts to Contain the Outbreak

At the Tiny Tots U Learning Academy, Messick and her staff are implementing measures to minimize the risk of further transmission. They are closely monitoring children for symptoms, isolating certain classrooms, and urging other child care facilities to encourage families to receive the MMR vaccine.

Families who choose not to vaccinate their children have been requested to keep them home for at least 21 days. The CDC emphasizes that two doses of the MMR vaccine are typically sufficient to provide lifelong protection against measles. Unvaccinated individuals exposed to the virus are highly susceptible to infection.

While the first dose is generally administered after a child's first birthday, it can be given early, at 6 months of age. Messick acknowledged the gravity of the situation, stating, "That’s the best that child care owners can do right now. It’s coming. There’s no way around it."