Second Measles Death In Texas Amid Growing Outbreak

Texas has reported a second measles-related death, as the state’s outbreak continues to rapidly spread. The latest victim, a school-aged girl, was confirmed to have contracted the virus and passed away while receiving treatment at University Medical Center Children’s Hospital in Lubbock.

The hospital issued a statement on Sunday, revealing that the child had no known underlying health conditions and had not been vaccinated against measles. “The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized,” the statement explained. “This unfortunate event underscores the importance of vaccination.”

This marks the second pediatric death in the state, following an earlier fatality in the outbreak that has infected nearly 500 people in Texas since January. An adult in New Mexico is also suspected of dying from the virus, marking the first measles-related deaths in the U.S. in a decade.

As of Friday, the Texas Department of State Health Services reported 481 confirmed cases of measles, representing a 14% increase from the previous week. Among the confirmed cases, six infants and toddlers from a Lubbock daycare center were recently diagnosed, with some among the 56 individuals hospitalized in the region since the outbreak began in late January.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Gaines County, the epicenter of the outbreak, to meet with local families and show support. In a post on X, he emphasized that the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is through the MMR vaccine. He also noted that teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had been dispatched to assist in controlling the situation.

Health officials continue to stress the importance of vaccination. According to the CDC, one in every 1,000 children infected with measles can die from respiratory and neurological complications, with pneumonia being the most common cause of death. Measles can also lead to “immune amnesia,” a condition that weakens the immune system long after the infection has cleared.

The outbreak that began in Texas has spread to at least two other states. Nationwide, 628 measles cases have been reported in at least 21 states and Washington, D.C., this year, according to NBC News. However, experts believe this number is likely an undercount, as many people are not being tested for the virus.

Local health officials in Lubbock are urging families to vaccinate their children. The CDC reports that two doses of the MMR vaccine are safe and 97% effective in preventing measles. The first dose is typically administered between 12 and 18 months, with a second dose given around age 5, when children enter kindergarten. In the midst of an outbreak, babies as young as 6 months old can receive the first dose of the vaccine.