The epicenter of the current measles outbreak is Gaines County, Texas, and the latest MMR vaccination rate among kindergarten students there is just shy of 82%. Here in Arizona, there are four counties with an even lower vaccination rate.

There’s been increasing anxiety over the last several weeks about an outbreak of measles in Texas and New Mexico. Public health officials in the Southwest are sounding the alarm — including Will Humble,

The first child in 10 years has died from the measles in Texas, and Arizona lacks the herd immunity to keep kids and vulnerable adults safe.

The decline isn’t due to medical exemptions. they make up a tiny fraction of the exemptions allowed. More parents are opting out through personal belief exemptions, according to state health department data.

Tucson, Ariz. (KVOA) - Measles cases are spreading to 10 states across the country, Friday night, including Texas and New Mexico. According to the CDC, there are more than 160 cases confirmed across the country. The CDC confirms a child died in Texas this week from Measles, the first Measles death in the United States in 10 years.

Measles can cause seizures, blindness and death, and children under the age of 5 are particularly vulnerable to complications.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pregnant women should wait to get the MMR vaccine until after they are no longer pregnant,

Some parts of Arizona have lower measles vaccination rates than the Texas measles outbreak epicenter.