The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on the ground in Texas to respond to the growing measles outbreak. The agency posted on X that it’s partnering with the Texas Department of State Health Services.

Texas’ health commissioner told lawmakers Monday they are still trying to determine the origin of a South Plains-Panhandle measles outbreak more than a month after the first patients reported symptoms.

The measles outbreak in Texas has reached nearly 150 cases, according to a Friday morning update from the state health department. The agency said 146 cases have been identified since late January. Twenty of those patients have been hospitalized, and one school-age, unvaccinated child has died.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. highlighted the rapid spread of measles in Texas, particularly among unvaccinated children. He urged parents to consult healthcare providers about the MMR vaccine. Kennedy praised healthcare workers and called for collective action to prevent future outbreaks.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he’s spoken directly with Gov. Greg Abbott about the measles outbreak in Texas, but neither are telling Texas families to get the vaccine that can stop the spread of the highly contagious respiratory illness.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the measles outbreak in west Texas is a “call to action” as he encouraged parents to consider whether to get their children vaccinated.

The health secretary said last week that the deadly outbreak in West Texas was "not unusual" and is now urging parents to have kids vaccinated.