Importance Score: 85 / 100 🟢
Second Child Dies in Texas Amidst Measles Outbreak
A second child has tragically died in Texas due to measles, amidst a concerning surge in cases with nearly 500 infections reported across the state. This preventable disease is spreading rapidly, raising alarm among public health officials.
Child’s Death Under Investigation
Federal health authorities confirmed the death to news outlets late Saturday, stating that the precise cause of death remained under investigation. A spokesperson for UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, disclosed on Sunday that the child had been hospitalized and was undergoing treatment for complications arising from measles, a disease readily preventable through vaccination.
The child’s family had opted against vaccination for the minor.
The New York Times reported the child was an eight-year-old girl who succumbed to “measles pulmonary failure” early on Thursday, citing obtained records in their report.
This marks the second pediatric measles fatality since February 26. The first was a six-year-old girl, also hospitalized in Lubbock, whose parents had also chosen not to vaccinate her.
Controversial Figure Expected at Funeral
News outlets reported that Robert F Kennedy Jr., the health secretary during the previous administration, was expected to attend the second child’s funeral service on Sunday.
Kennedy has a history of spreading unfounded doubts regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness. In March, his promotion of vitamins as a potential measles treatment, while minimizing the importance of proven vaccines, sparked concern among public health advocates amidst the escalating outbreak. He has characterized vaccination as a “personal choice” rather than a scientifically established public health measure.
In early March, officials in New Mexico announced a third death associated with measles – an unvaccinated individual in Lea County – though the virus’s role in the death has not been definitively confirmed.
Expert Blames Misinformation for Preventable Death
Dr. Peter Marks, former Food and Drug Administration vaccine official, who attributed his resignation to Kennedy’s “misinformation and lies,” directly blamed the health secretary and his staff for the death of the child being buried on Sunday.
“This is a completely preventable tragedy,” Marks stated in an Associated Press interview on Sunday. “Vaccination is crucial to prevent measles-related fatalities in children.”
Marks also revealed to the AP that he had cautioned US senators about the potential for increased measles deaths if the former administration did not intensify its response to the outbreak. The Senate health committee has summoned Kennedy to testify before the committee this Thursday.
Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican, physician, and member of the committee, who frequently advocates for vaccination, had previously voted to confirm Kennedy as health secretary.
Cassidy issued a statement on Sunday emphasizing: “Everyone should be vaccinated.”
“There is no benefit to contracting measles,” Cassidy’s statement continued. “Top health officials must state this unequivocally to prevent further child fatalities.”
Measles: Highly Contagious and Preventable
Measles, a highly contagious airborne viral illness spread through respiratory droplets, was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000. However, recent outbreaks are occurring in under-vaccinated communities. Texas and New Mexico are among five states currently experiencing active outbreaks, defined as three or more cases.
The other states include Kansas, Ohio, and Oklahoma. Nationally, as of last Friday, the U.S. has exceeded 600 measles cases this year, more than double the total cases reported in 2024. Public health officials and experts anticipate the measles outbreaks could persist for several more months, potentially up to a year.
Texas Measles Outbreak: Key Statistics
- Texas reported 481 measles cases across 19 counties as of Friday, with the majority concentrated in the western region.
- Between Tuesday and Friday, 59 previously unreported cases were registered.
- The state also saw 14 new hospitalizations, bringing the total hospitalizations to 56 during this outbreak period.
Gaines County: Epicenter
Gaines County, with a population under 23,000, accounts for over 65% of Texas’s measles cases. The outbreak originated in a close-knit, under-vaccinated Mennonite community within Gaines County.
Since late January, Gaines County has recorded 315 cases, affecting just over 1% of its residents.