Lubbock, Texas — In a tragic development, a child who was not vaccinated has died amid a significant measles outbreak in rural West Texas. This marks the first U.S. death from the highly contagious respiratory disease since 2015, according to state officials.
The school-aged child was hospitalized and succumbed to the disease on Tuesday night. This outbreak is the largest in Texas in nearly three decades, with 124 cases reported across nine counties since it began last month. Confirmation of the death came from the Texas Department of State Health Services and Lubbock health officials, as reported by The Associated Press.
The Lubbock hospital, where the child received treatment and where most measles patients are currently hospitalized, has not responded to requests for comment. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a notable health official and vaccine critic, stated that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is monitoring the outbreak, though he did not elaborate on federal assistance measures. He deemed the Texas outbreak as “not unusual” during a meeting with President Donald Trump’s Cabinet members.
Despite Kennedy’s claims, a spokesman later clarified that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed only one death from the outbreak. The federal government is providing vaccines and technical support, but the state health department spearheads the response, according to Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott communicated through a spokesman that his office maintains regular contact with state health authorities and epidemiologists. He assured that vaccination teams are actively working in the affected areas. Spokesman Andrew Mahaleris emphasized the deployment of all necessary resources to ensure Texans' safety, lamenting the child's death as a tragedy.
The CDC has committed to providing weekly updates on the measles outbreak and has not yet updated its public webpage to reflect the recent death. Data from the Texas health department indicates that the majority of measles cases are occurring in children, predominantly in rural, oil-rich regions of West Texas. These areas include a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community, according to health department spokesperson Lara Anton.
In Gaines County alone, 80 cases have been reported. The region is known for its strong homeschooling and private school community, and it has one of the highest rates of school-aged children in Texas who have opted out of at least one required vaccine, with nearly 14% skipping a required dose last school year.
The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is a safe and highly effective measure against infection and severe cases. It is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old, with a second dose between 4 and 6 years old. However, vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, with most states falling below the 95% vaccination threshold necessary to protect communities against measles outbreaks.
Last week, Kennedy pledged to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule, which prevents measles, polio, and other dangerous diseases, despite previous assurances not to alter it during his confirmation hearings. The measles virus, a respiratory pathogen, can survive in the air for up to two hours. According to the CDC, up to 9 out of 10 susceptible individuals will contract the virus if exposed.
Although most children recover from measles, the infection can lead to severe complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and even death. The U.S. considered measles eliminated in 2000, indicating a halt in continuous disease spread for at least a year. However, measles cases spiked in 2024, notably in a Chicago outbreak affecting over 60 individuals.
