There has been a lot of media attention given lately to the measles outbreak in Texas. The outbreak now accounts for 90 cases—77 of them involving children under the age of 18. It has been reported that “most of those infected” either have not be vaccinated for measles or have an “unknown vaccination status,” while five have received the measles vaccine. Of those infected with measles, 16 involved individuals who have been hospitalized.1 2 3
Most of the measles infections (57) have occurred in Gaines County, primarily in the city of Seminole, which is the county seat.1 2 3
According to spokesperson for the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) Lara Anton, state health officials still do not know what the initial source of the exposure to the measles virus was that started the outbreak, which suggests that they do not yet know the strain of the virus. An outstanding question is whether the type of measles circulating and causing the outbreak is “wild-type” measles virus or “vaccine-strain” measles virus.4
This is important to determine, as well as relevant because the uptick in the spread of the outbreak happened to coincide with the start of a MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine clinic in Seminole hosted by the South Plains Public Health District on Feb. 10-13, 2025.5
On Feb. 7, there were only nine confirmed cases of measles in Gaines County and three probable cases, according to Zach Holbrooks, executive director of the South Plains Public Health District, a non-profit governmental agency partnered with Seminole and Gaines County. In a span of just over two weeks, the number of reported measles cases had nearly quintupled.6
So can the mass measles (MMR) vaccination campaign and the sudden spike in measles cases be merely a coincidence or might there be a causal relationship? A colleague recently reminded me that there is no way to know for sure until every case is confirmed by laboratory testing and every virus sample is genotyped to confirm if it is wild-type measles occurring naturally or vaccine-strain measles that is being spread via measles vaccinations and perhaps intensified by the clinic’s MMR vaccination campaign. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes on its website:
The vaccine strain of measles virus can be distinguished from wild-type viruses by determination of the genotype from clinical specimens or virus isolates. Vaccine strains can also be distinguished from wild-type viruses by real-time RT-PCR.7
While rare, there have been both confirmed and suspected cases of vaccine-strain measles infections. There is also mounting evidence that measles vaccine acquired immunity is waning in highly vaccinated populations and there are atypical and subclinical measles infections that can occur in vaccinated individuals.8 9 10 11 12
The Merck and GSK Measles Vaccines
There are two live attenuated (weakened) virus measles vaccines available in the United States. The first is M-M-R II, produced by Merck & Co. The second MMR vaccine is Priorix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline Biologicals (GSK). In addition to a dose of measles vaccine, M-M-R II and Priorix are combination MMR shots, each also containing a dose of live mumps vaccine and a dose of live rubella vaccine. Years ago, separate measles, mumps, and rubella vaccines were available but, today, only the combination MMR vaccine is available in the U.S.13
Merck’s M-M-R II contains the Moraten strain (Enders’ Edmonston strain) of the measles virus, the Jeryl Lynn strain (JL1 and JL2 lineages) of the mumps virus, and the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of the rubella virus. GSK’s Priorix contains the Schwarz strain of the measles virus, the RIT 4385 strain of the mumps virus, and the Wistar RA 27/3 strain of the rubella virus.13 14
The ingredients in M-M-R II include sorbitol, sucrose, and hydrolyzed gelatin as stabilizers. Residual byproducts include proteins from cells used to grow virus (WI-38 human diploid cells), recombinant human albumin, fetal bovine serum, and neomycin. M-M-R II contains no adjuvant or preservative. The ingredients in Priorix include anhydrous lactose, sorbitol, amino acids, and mannitol. Residual byproducts include proteins from cells used to grow virus (MRC-5 human diploid cells), neomycin sulphate, ovalbumin, and bovine serum albumin. Priorix contains no adjuvant or preservative.13
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Click here to view References:1 Melton B. Measles spreads in Texas. And, how U.S. funding cuts could benefit China. NPR Feb. 19, 2025.
2 Shultz CL. Measles Outbreak in East Texas May Have Infected Up to 300 with ‘Additional Cases Likely,’ Officials Say. People Feb. 19, 2025.
3 Walrath-Holdridge. Texas measles outbreak grows to 90 cases, rising from 58 in just 3 days. USA Today Feb. 21, 2025.
4 Runnels A. West Texas measles outbreak climbs to 58, with four saying they were vaccinated. The Texas Tribune Feb. 18, 2025.
5 KCBD Staff. South Plains Public Health District hosting MMR vaccine clinic. KCBD 11 Feb. 10, 2025.
6 HealthDay News. Texas County Reports Measles Outbreak Among Unvaccinated Children. Cardiology Advisor Feb. 20, 2025.
7 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genetic Analysis of Measles Viruses. June 7, 2024.
8 Costales C. Vaccine-Associated Measles Encephalitis in Immunocompromised Child, California, USA. Emerg Infect Dis April 2022; 28(4): 906–908.
9 Churchill L et al. Vaccine-associated measles in a healthy 40-year-old woman. CMAJ Sept. 4 2018; 190(35): E1046–E1048.
10 Kushner LE. Vaccine Associated Measles Complicated by Suspected Measles Inclusion Body Encephalitis in a Pediatric Leukemia Patient and Stem Cell Transplant Recipient: A Focus on Clinical Evolution and Management. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal June 2024; 43(6): p 582-586.
11 Lord H et al. Is it or is it not? Lessons learned from a case of suspected vaccine strain measles. Aust N Z J Public Health April 2020; 44(2): 160-162.
12 Fisher BL. What Is Going on With Measles? The Science and Politics of Eradicating Measles. National Vaccine Information Center May 25, 2019.
13 Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Ingredients in MMR Vaccines. Oct. 7, 2024.
14 Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. News & Views: What Should I Know About the New MMR Vaccine, PRIORIX? Mar. 22, 2023.
14 Responses
This is another “hit” on our children to encourage shots. All the affected children & others need a heavy dose of Vitamin A and the rash will disappear in 24 hours. Prevention requires proper public sanitation and personal hygiene. A daily vitamin A supplement will prevent measles. The measles was eradicated long before a vaccine.
False information.
Measles are not an emergency. they are spreading more fear porn. The shots cause more cases of measles. Healthy children do not die from measles. I would rather my child have the measles for a few days than a life time with autism or other conditions caused by these poisons. Measles are one and done forever.
Exactly! Well said!
False information.
studies on Pubmed debunk the notion that those vaccinated against measles are contagious.
Studies in NIH say that children shed the vaccine material for 6 weeks to 4 months after vaccination. They tested the children’s urine.
Bovine serum!?!? We’ll moooooooooooove along to the next solution which does not require injecting ourselves with foreign substances from other animals.
So can the mass measles (MMR) vaccination campaign and the sudden spike in measles cases be merely a coincidence or might there be a causal relationship?
Does a bird fly in the sky? Is water wet? Does the sun shine? Is fire warm? Does a predator hunt for food? When you introduce toxic pathogens to people, can toxic pathogens then spread to other nearby persons?
Sir, we’re going to need a nine figure or more operational budget, several high end fancy laboratories, even better microscopes, advanced electron microscopes, a thousand college interns all willing to work for free, two hundred highly paid laboratory technicians and clinical scientists, an exercise room, on site sauna, weekly courtesy free lunch and meal services, company vehicles, full ride medical coverage, employer paid college tuition, matching retirement, hiring bonuses, a complete squad of ruthless lawyers, and liability protection granted by the politicians to figure this out. But rest assured, figure this out we will! We’ll have that answer for you asap, eta five years. In the meantime, let’s fast track this alternative vaccine approval just to be on the safe side. And remember, if anyone interviews you over the matter, keep your white lab coat on so they remember who’s the health authority and who is not.
Sounds about right. Dd ended up with the Measles 7 days post-vaccination (we were forced to vaccinate her with “something” in order to adopt, so we decided on the measles only vax). They, of course, refused to acknowledge that’s what it was and instead insisted it was a diaper rash. Head-to-toe? Really? Regardless, getting the measles (wild preferred) is a good thing for the immune system and they should be grateful instead of finger-pointing and fear-mongering.
Absolutely!
Those “by-product” cells actually have cancer cells, and that is how they grow them. You know darn well there is more than that and the fact that everything going forward is mRNA…gene therapy, not a vaccine.
Yes, kids get measles, and they also get them from the “vaccine.” And there is no “vaccine” on the planet that prevents disease. Remember Fauci’s “safe and effective “ campaign, went from 98% down below 20%. Just more fear mongering. When will people learn.
Thanks for this article. It’s the only one about the TX measles which is investigative at all. I await the findings, and the possibility that those might actually be available to inquiring minds – what other health conditions accompanied these complicated cases? Why are ANY vaxxed people getting measles? What strain is spreading? How far from the clinic recipients are these cases being found?
I love the way the “false information” comment refers to zero sources to substantiate the statement. Looks like a missed opportunity to enlighten us or person is a pharma ‘plant’? Having grown up before there was a measles (or mmr) shot it was a childhood disease we all got and resulted in lifetime immunity.
update.
80 vaccine free.
138 unknown vax
5 at least 1 measeals vax
over 60% of measeals cases are unknown vaccine status.
The hospital are PCR testing children with non measeals hospitalsation.
Can a measeals vaccine cause a positive PCR test?
Also they are vaccinated children with measeals exposer against Fda instructions.