Measles Outbreak: Second Child Dies as Texas Cases Surge, Virus Spreads

A second unvaccinated child in West Texas has died from measles-related complications, hospital officials confirmed on Sunday.

The child, identified as an 8-year-old girl, died early Thursday morning from “measles pulmonary failure” at UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, according to records. Hospital spokesperson, Aaron Davis, said the child had no underlying health conditions and was receiving treatment for measles complications while hospitalized, the Associated Press reported.

Newsweek reached out to UMC Health System and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) via email on Sunday for comment.

Why It Matters

This case marks the third measles-related death in the current outbreak, following the February death of an unvaccinated child in Lubbock—the first U.S. measles death in a decade—and an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico who later tested positive for measles after they died, although officials have not yet confirmed measles as the cause.

Measles, a highly contagious virus that can be deadly, was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, meaning there was no continuous transmission of the virus within the country, and new cases were primarily linked to international travel. However, recent years have seen a resurgence in cases and outbreaks, mainly due to declining vaccination rates.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 95 percent of the confirmed cases this year involved individuals who were either unvaccinated or had an unknown vaccination status.

What To Know

The West Texas outbreak has expanded significantly, with cases increasing to 81 between March 28 and April 4, bringing the total to approximately 480 cases with 56 hospitalizations in that region alone. The virus has spread to neighboring states, with 54 cases in New Mexico, 10 in Oklahoma, as well as Kansas, totaling nearly 570 people affected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also said that cases reported in Mexico can be linked to Texas.

Health officials report most cases are among unvaccinated individuals, particularly children under 17. The measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine has been safely used for over 60 years and is 97 percent effective against measles after two doses. The first dose is recommended for children ages 12-15 months, with the second dose at ages 4-6 years.

Doctors at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock report treating children for liver issues resulting from vitamin A toxicity, as some parents have been using vitamin A supplements to treat or prevent measles despite medical warnings about potential dangers, the AP reported.

What People Are Saying

Senator Bill Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican and a liver doctor, wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on Sunday: “Not publicly known if the child was vaccinated, but almost certainly not. Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles. Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.”

Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in a recent CNN interview said: “When you and I were kids, everybody got measles, and measles gave you…lifetime protection against measles infection. The vaccine doesn’t do that. The vaccine is effective for some people for life, but for many people, it wanes.”

Texas Department of State Health Services wrote in a March update on the outbreak: “Due to the highly contagious nature of this disease, additional cases are likely to occur in the outbreak area and the surrounding communities. DSHS is working with local health departments to investigate the outbreak.”

Kenneth Moritsugu, former U.S. acting surgeon general, wrote in an opinion piece for Newsweek after the first death was reported in Texas: “Unfortunately, childhood vaccination rates have been declining, including for the MMR vaccine. This measles death could portend more to come without clear government communication about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.”

Dr. Peter Marks, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) former vaccine chief who recently resigned said, per the AP: “This is the epitome of an absolute needless death. These kids should get vaccinated—that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”

What Happens Next?

Kennedy Jr., who has faced criticism for his tepid support of vaccination while promoting alternative treatments like vitamin A supplements, is expected to launch a “Make America Healthy Again” tour across the southwestern U.S. this week.

Local health officials and experts predict the outbreak will continue for several more months, possibly up to a year. With declining childhood vaccination rates nationwide and multiple state outbreaks, public health officials remain concerned about maintaining the country’s measles elimination status.

Reporting from the Associated Press contributed to this article.