A measles outbreak at a migrant detention center in Dilley, Texas, has prompted calls from medical experts and advocates to close the facility to prevent a wider epidemic. With at least two confirmed cases inside the center and rising infections in surrounding states, public health experts warn that the crowded conditions within the center could turn it into an “epidemic engine,” potentially spreading the highly contagious virus to the surrounding community. In response to the outbreak, Democratic Congressman Joaquin Castro has called for the immediate closure of the facility, arguing that it is unequipped to handle a medical crisis and that families should not be held in prison-like conditions. The situation at Dilley coincides with a broader surge of measles cases across several U.S. states, fueled by rising vaccine hesitancy and a lack of clear national public health campaigns.
Date: February 5, 2026. Source: theguardian.com