Measles Cases Confirmed in Texas Immigration Detention Center

At least two instances of measles have been reported at a significant immigration detention center in Texas, coinciding with a rise in cases across states like South Carolina, Arizona, and Utah, which is raising concerns among health experts.

This year alone, January accounted for 25% of last year’s total confirmed cases, and the outbreak appears to be escalating. Federal officials have not made any announcements regarding vaccination efforts.

The vast majority of those affected are unvaccinated, yet there hasn’t been any substantial communication from health leaders, like Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the current Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), who previously advocated for treating measles vaccinations as a personal choice and recommended unverified treatments for the illness.

Jason Bowling, a professor of infectious diseases at UT Health in San Antonio, described the situation as “frightening” and “worrisome.” Anna-Kathryn Burch, director of pediatric infectious diseases at Prisma Health Children’s Hospital in South Carolina, echoed this, stating, “I do not see this slowing down… What’s happening in South Carolina could occur anywhere vaccination rates drop.”

The Dilley family detention center, one of two immigration facilities for children in the U.S., reported the two confirmed measles cases on a recent Friday. Chris Van Deusen, director of media relations at the Texas Department of State Health Services, confirmed they are providing vaccine doses as requested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

This center also recently housed Liam Conejo Ramos, a five-year-old asylum seeker, and his father, who were detained in Minneapolis. Protests erupted at the facility on January 24, with children demanding to be released. Reports noted that some children, including Elizabeth Zuna Caisaguano, showed flu-like symptoms but had not been tested for measles before their release.

Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro from San Antonio is advocating for the immediate closure of the detention center, emphasizing that it is not equipped to handle a measles outbreak and asserting that innocent families should not be imprisoned.

Eric Reinhart, a political anthropologist and psychiatrist, described detention centers as “epidemic engines” that can rapidly spread viruses. He pointed out that the conditions within these facilities—often housing people without stable access to healthcare—can lead to increased outbreaks.

The overall measles outbreak in the U.S. is continuing to escalate. South Carolina has reported a total of 876 cases and at least 18 hospitalizations as of Tuesday, surpassing the previous outbreak in West Texas from last year.

Arizona and Utah are also facing ongoing outbreaks, with 239 and 251 confirmed cases respectively. By the end of last week, there were 588 confirmed cases in the U.S. this year; notably, most of these resulted from local spread, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As measles spreads in communities, detention centers become vulnerable hotspots due to crowded and unsanitary conditions. One in five measles cases typically requires hospitalization, making these environments particularly risky.

Reinhart stressed that this is a major public health concern, mentioning that unless significant changes are made, like getting individuals out of such settings, effective containment of the virus is nearly impossible.

The spread of infectious diseases is often exacerbated in jails and prisons, creating risks not only for those inside but for the surrounding communities as well. Reinhart pointed to past measures like releasing inmates to mitigate broader outbreaks and called for changes in immigration enforcement practices.

ICE did not respond to inquiries regarding movement within the detention facility or details about any vaccination initiatives.

In light of the lack of federal vaccination campaigns, state and local officials are taking the lead. Burch expressed her sadness about the situation in her state, emphasizing that there is an effective vaccine available to prevent measles. She mentioned that vaccine hesitancy among the public is making the situation tougher for pediatricians.

Both Burch and Bowling highlighted the critical importance of vaccination in preventing further outbreaks. There are groups—such as those who are pregnant or too young to be vaccinated—who remain at high risk, especially in encampments like Dilley.

Healthcare systems in South Carolina are implementing measures like requiring masks and adjusting patient screenings in response to the outbreak. Burch noted, “We learned to adapt during the Covid pandemic, and we’re applying that knowledge to this situation.”