Unvaccinated Child Dies of Measles in Texas: First Death Since 2015!

2025-02-26 19:17:14.902

A child in West Texas has died from measles, the first death in an outbreak that began late last month and the first from measles in the U.S. since 2015. The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the death, stating the child was unvaccinated and school-aged. The outbreak has grown to 124 cases across nine counties in West Texas and nine cases in eastern New Mexico, marking Texas’ largest outbreak in nearly 30 years. The CDC confirmed this is the first measles death in the country since 2015. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. mentioned the outbreak during a cabinet meeting, but the health secretary provided no specifics on federal assistance. Governor Greg Abbott expressed condolences and stated the state will deploy necessary resources. Vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the COVID-19 pandemic, falling below the 95% threshold needed to protect against outbreaks. The outbreak is concentrated in the Mennonite community, where many families opt out of vaccinations for their children. The measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine is highly effective, and the CDC is providing assistance to West Texas.