Texas measles outbreak: 136 cases reported, majority tied to federal detention facilities

State health officials reported that at least 136 measles cases have been recorded in Texas so far this year, with the bulk occurring inside federal detention facilities, authorities said on March 18, 2026. The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed that 99 infections were linked to a single detention center in Hudspeth County as of March 11.

Hudspeth County Judge Joanna MacKenzie identified the site as the West Texas Detention Facility, managed by private operator LaSalle Corrections, and said her office lacks jurisdiction over the response. State officials also reported two cases at a Frio County detention site — including two earlier-confirmed cases at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley — and 15 cases in El Paso County, of which 14 were tied to Camp East Montana and one to the county jail. A federal agency said Camp East Montana had no active measles cases as of March 17. DSHS described its role in federal facilities as limited and declined to provide further case details.

Beyond the 116 cases identified within detention settings, the agency reported 20 community-associated infections across El Paso, Bexar, Bandera, Kendall, Lubbock and Rockwall counties, attributed to international travel, domestic travel or community spread. Public health experts emphasize prompt investigation and vaccination to curb transmission; national figures show larger, ongoing outbreaks in a few other states. Federal departments have redirected inquiries among agencies as advocacy groups raise concerns about medical care in certain detention camps.