Tracing the Spread: A Timeline of the Southwest Outbreak
Published on: 2025-12-27
The 2025 measles outbreak in the U.S. Southwest did not emerge overnight. It began with a series of key events that marked its progression from isolated cases to a widespread public health crisis, ultimately contributing to the worst measles year for the United States in over three decades.
Key Timeline of the Outbreak:
- January 17, 2025: The first warning signs appear as the Houston Health Department confirms two measles cases linked to international travel.
- Late January 2025: The outbreak takes root in West Texas, with two cases confirmed in Lubbock. Gaines County is soon identified as the epicenter.
- Mid-February 2025: The virus crosses state lines, spreading to New Mexico and multiple other communities across West Texas.
- March 2025: The geographic scope of the outbreak widens, with related cases reported in Oklahoma, Kansas, and across the border in Chihuahua, Mexico.
- April 3, 2025: A tragic milestone is reached with the death of an eight-year-old girl in Lubbock from measles-related complications.
- Late Summer 2025: The outbreak reaches the Four Corners region, with significant spread in southwestern Utah and Arizona. By this point, nearly 900 people have been sickened.
- August 18, 2025: Texas declares its outbreak over after reporting 762 cases, but the crisis is far from over for the rest of the Southwest.
- December 2025: As the year closes, Utah continues to battle ongoing transmission, and the national case count approaches 2,000, highlighting the virus's relentless spread.
Understanding this trajectory is crucial for public health officials as they work to predict the future course of the outbreak and implement strategies to prevent further spread. It is a story of a virus on the move and a public health system in a race against time.