A measles outbreak in West Texas has caused school absences to rise 41% across all grades, far exceeding the number of confirmed cases, a Stanford study shows.
Absence Surge Outpaces Confirmed Cases
The study, still in preliminary form, found that the Seminole Independent School District experienced a 41% increase in absences during the outbreak period compared with the same time in the previous two years. While state data estimated 141 students had confirmed measles, the rise in absences was roughly ten times what would be expected from those students alone.
Vaccination Gaps and Public Health Guidance
In the 2024-2025 school year, only 77% of kindergartners in the district were vaccinated against measles, below the 95% threshold many experts say is needed to prevent outbreaks. State health officials recommend that sick or suspected measles cases stay home until four days after the rash appears, and that unvaccinated or vulnerable students be excluded for up to 21 days after exposure.
Impact on Learning and Parental Decisions
The most pronounced spike was among preschool and first-grade children, with a 71% increase in absences. Superintendent Glen Teal said most absences stemmed from local health requirements to keep exposed children out of school. Jacob Kirksey, a Texas Tech University education policy professor, noted that parental concern likely added to the numbers, saying, “If you’re hearing on the news or you’re seeing that there is just an illness outbreak more broadly, the parents are going to be predispositioned to just be more hesitant to send their kids to school.”
Outbreaks in Other States
South Carolina’s outbreak has similarly led to spikes in absenteeism. Dr. Linda Bell, the state epidemiologist, reported that more than 165 people, including 127 students from three schools, were in a 21-day quarantine because they were unvaccinated or otherwise vulnerable. Bell emphasized that vaccination remains the best way to prevent the educational disruption caused by measles.
Key Takeaways
- A 41% rise in school absences in Seminole Independent School District during a measles outbreak.
- Only 77% of kindergartners were vaccinated, below the 95% target.
- South Carolina’s outbreak has seen 165 people quarantined, 127 of them students.
The outbreak highlights how measles can severely disrupt learning, especially when vaccination rates fall short of herd immunity.
