We haven't talked much about measles since it was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000. But measles is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, and lower vaccination rates have given it a chance to spread -- just like we're seeing in West Texas. Dr. Sanjay Gupta traveled there to find out how the outbreak started, what's being done to contain it, and how the community is coping.
West Texas. Wide open highways, sprawling landscapes. Really beautiful country. But unfortunately, now also home to the largest measles outbreak in the state in 30 years. You probably know measles from its signature spotted red rash, but otherwise, you know, we really haven't had much reason to talk about it since it was essentially eliminated here in the United States back in 2000. For a long time, we simply didn't have any new cases. Nobody was getting sick of measles. And that, of course, was thanks to the development of the measles vaccine in the 1960s. But the thing about measles is that it is one of the most contagious viruses on the planet, and that means the vaccination rate doesn't have to drop by too much for it to start to spread. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, they said a 95% vaccination rate goal for kindergartners. What does that mean? Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. MMR vaccine to help prevent outbreaks. Now that is a high number. But when a virus is very contagious, you need a higher vaccination rate to keep it at bay. And when it's lower, the virus has the opportunity to quickly take hold. And that is exactly what we are seeing now in West Texas. That's where the outbreak started in this tight knit, rural, under vaccinated Mennonite community.