Measles Outbreak in Texas Raises Concern for Louisiana Officials

SHREVEPORT, LA - A measles outbreak in west Texas has health officials worried about the spread of the disease. So far, there have been no cases in Louisiana.

So far, there have been 15 confirmed cases in school-aged children. Until now, we have seen very few cases of measles in the U.S. because most children were vaccinated. But vaccination rates have been falling over the past few years and this is leading to concerns about outbreaks.

What States Have the Lowest Measles Vaccination Rates?

Louisiana 62%
Montana 62%
Alaska 64%
California 65%
Georgia 66%

What States Have the Highest Measles Vaccination Rates?

Minnesota 95%
Maine 95%
Texas 94%
Rhode Island 94%
New Jersey 93%

The CDC says states need to have a vaccination rate of at least 95% to prevent possible outbreaks of measles. The current vaccination rates in almost all states is lower than before the  COVID-19 pandemic.

What you need to know is that measles is a very contagious and it will show up with in a cough, a fever and red spots on your skin. Pediatric experts say if we continue to see vaccination rates fall, we could see a spike in measles cases and possibly widespread infections.

Take a Look at Measles Cases in 2025

https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html

Alaska, Georgia, New York City, Rhode Island, and Texas.

A new report on CBS News says there have been more than 20 cases in children in Texas. These cases will likely show up later this week when the CDC updates the report.

Does Louisiana Need to Worry About Measles?

Medical professionals in Louisiana are concerned we could see a measles outbreak in Louisiana because of low vaccination rates. There were 9 reported measles cases in Louisiana in 2024.