Measles Outbreak Kills Child in West Texas: Unvaccinated Kids at Risk!

2025-02-27 08:05:35.06

A school-aged child in West Texas has died from measles, marking the first measles death in the US since 2015. The child was unvaccinated. The outbreak, centered in Gaines County, has now spread to eight additional counties, with a total of 124 confirmed cases, mostly in unvaccinated children aged 5-17. Eighteen people have been hospitalized, primarily for respiratory issues related to measles pneumonia. While the death toll was initially misreported as two, Texas officials confirmed only one death. Low vaccination rates, particularly in Gaines County where nearly 1 in 5 kindergartners lack the MMR vaccine, are to blame. Health officials warn that the outbreak could continue for months due to the highly contagious nature of measles and low vaccination rates across West Texas. Free vaccination clinics have been opened in Lubbock, but experts fear that the upcoming Houston rodeo could further spread the virus. The CDC is providing assistance to Texas health officials in their response to the outbreak.