Texas: A second child has died from measles in western Texas, deepening concern as the region grapples with a growing outbreak of the highly contagious virus. The latest victim, an eight-year-old unvaccinated girl with no underlying health conditions, surrendered to complications in hospital, officials confirmed.
Aaron Davis, Vice-president of UMC Health System stated that, “Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, particularly for those who are unvaccinated.”
The girl is the third person in the US to die from measles in recent weeks, following the death of a six-year-old in February and an unvaccinated man in New Mexico in March. The New Mexico case remains under investigation.
US Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr visited Texas in the wake of the latest death. Speaking from the state, he confirmed the girl’s passing and said he was working with local officials to improve the federal response.
Kennedy stated that, “My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief.” He added that he was deploying a team to circulate vaccines and medical supplies, as had been done previously in March.
Health authorities have reported a surge in cases in recent days, with more than 480 measles infections confirmed in Texas — up from 420 earlier in the week. The outbreak, which began in a religious community opposed to vaccination, has spread to neighbouring states including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas.
Kennedy, a long-time vaccine sceptic, has faced mounting criticism for his initial response to the outbreak, which many health experts described as “muted.” While he has since taken a more active role, he has stopped short of directly urging parents to vaccinate their children, instead advising them to consult their doctors.
In February, Kennedy described the outbreak as “not unusual,” prompting backlash from health officials and lawmakers. Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who is also a physician, called for clearer leadership.
Cassidy wrote on X, stating that, “Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles. Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.”
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed over 600 measles cases nationwide this year — more than double the total for all of 2024. Nearly all infections have emerged among unvaccinated individuals, with experts stressing that two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine are 97 percent effective at preventing illness.
Texas health workers say their efforts to raise vaccination rates have met resistance, especially in insular communities with anti-vaccine views. Some hospitals, including Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, have reported cases of Vitamin A toxicity after children were treated for measles complications using home remedies not recommended by medical professionals.
Measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, but resurgences have become more frequent in recent years as vaccine hesitancy grows. Public health experts warn that to prevent future outbreaks, at least 95 percent of the population must be vaccinated to maintain herd immunity.
The Texas Department of Health and the federal Department of Health and Human Services have not yet included the most recent child’s death in their official case counts.
TRENDING | Meta rolls out Llama 4 Scout and Maverick; Previews powerful AI Behemoth
