Southwest
Measles outbreak continues in Texas, cases double: investigation underway
An outbreak of measles in the South Plains of Texas is continuing to grow, with the number of cases doubling in less than a week.
At least 48 cases were identified with symptom onset within the last three weeks, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. More than a dozen people were hospitalized.
Fox News Digital previously reported the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) warned the outbreak mostly involves school-aged children in Gaines County.
Health officials are investigating a measles outbreak in Texas. (iStock )
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However, additional cases were detected in Lynn, Terry and Yoakum counties.
“Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in Gaines County and the surrounding communities,” health officials wrote in a statement.
In every case, the patient was unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, according to the DSHS.
In March, multiple people living at a Chicago migrant shelter tested positive for measles. (AP/Erin Hooley)
The outbreak is under investigation.
The rash of cases comes more than two decades after health agencies reported the disease was “eliminated” in 2000.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can be life-threatening, according to the DSHS.
It can be spread through direct contact with infectious droplets, or airborne when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, according to officials. The virus can remain infectious in the air for up to two hours after an infected person leaves an area.
A one dose bottle of meals, mumps and rubella virus vaccine, made by MERCK, is held up at the Salt Lake County Health Department on April 26, 2019, in Salt Lake City, Utah. (George Frey/Getty Images)
Symptoms usually appear within a week or two, and include a high fever, cough, runny nose, and red, watery eyes.
A few days later, flat, red spots appear on the face and then spread down the neck to the rest of the body. People are most contagious the four days before and four days after the rash appears.
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Those who believe they may have measles, or may have been exposed to measles, should isolate and call their doctor before arriving to be tested, according to the DSHS.
The best way to prevent getting sick is by receiving two doses of the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine, according to officials.
Fox News Digital’s Christina Shaw contributed to this report.
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Jurors deliberating the fate of the man accused of starting the Palisades Fire, one of the most destructive wildfires in California’s history, failed to reach a verdict Thursday afternoon, telling the judge they were deadlocked.
A spokesperson from the United States Attorney’s Office told KTLA that jurors will continue to deliberate until they reach a verdict or give up.
Jonathan Rinderknecht, 30, a former Uber driver and one-time Pacific Palisades resident, is accused of starting the Lachman Fire on New Year’s Eve. The fire continued to smolder underground for about a week, even after Los Angeles firefighters believed it had been extinguished.
Flames reignited on Jan. 7, erupting into the deadly Palisades Fire that killed 12 people and destroyed thousands of homes in the upscale community, authorities said.
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A courtroom sketch of Jonathan Rinderknecht, 29, during his initial court appearance on Oct. 23, 2025. (Bill Robles) -
The U.S. Dept. of Justice booking photo of Jonathan Rinderknecht over the Palisades Fire devastation in Malibu, California in January 2025 (AP).
Prosecutors argued that Rinderknecht deliberately set the fire, claiming he had grown increasingly resentful of wealthy residents and viewed Pacific Palisades as a symbol of that frustration.
“Their case, though circumstantial, is strong,” KTLA legal analyst Alison Triessl said. “The defense is relying on, can they (prosecutors) show beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Rinderknecht actually started this fire and it wasn’t the result of fireworks or some intervening cause.”
The defense argued there is no direct physical evidence tying Rinderknecht to the fire and said the prosecution’s case relies entirely on circumstantial evidence. Rinderknecht did not testify during the trial.
Defense attorney Steve Haney spoke outside the courthouse Wednesday about why he believes it will be difficult for prosecutors to prove how the fire started.
“The lack of scene preservation. The fact that they got there after a lot of the evidence was missing. Not a lot of direct evidence. This is a circumstantial case, which is always difficult as a prosecutor to prove,” Haney said.
Rinderknecht, who was arrested and indicted last October, faces up to 45 years in prison if found guilty of three arson counts, including destruction of property by means of fire, arson affecting property used in interstate commerce and timber set afire.
Tony Kurzweil contributed to this report
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