A second school-aged child has tragically died in Texas due to complications from measles, as confirmed by UMC Health System in Lubbock. The ongoing outbreak, which originated in West Texas, continues to pose a significant threat to public health.

Details of the Incident

According to Aaron Davis, a spokesperson for the hospital, the child was hospitalized for severe measles complications and was not vaccinated. The exact date of the child’s passing has not been disclosed.

This death follows a previous measles-related fatality in February, marking the first reported measles death in the United States in a decade. It was later followed by another measles-related death of an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico in March.

Current Outbreak Status

The West Texas measles outbreak has extended its reach beyond state borders, affecting areas in New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, with nearly 570 confirmed cases reported. Notably, the World Health Organization has linked cases in Mexico to this outbreak as well.

Between March 28 and April 4, Texas witnessed a sharp increase of 81 new cases; the total number of cases this year escalates to at least 607 nationwide—more than double the total reported for all of 2022, as noted by the latest CDC update.

The Importance of Vaccination

The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine has a long-established safety record, having been in use for over 60 years and demonstrating a 97% effectiveness against measles after two doses. Despite this, some figures in public health, including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have expressed hesitant endorsements of vaccination, intertwining safety concerns with advocacy.

Dr. Peter Marks, former vaccine chief at the FDA, placed the responsibility for these avoidable deaths on Kennedy and his team, emphasizing, “These kids should get vaccinated — that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles.”

Ongoing Health Measures

Local health officials fear that the outbreak could persist for several more months, potentially impacting vaccination rates and public health perceptions in the long term. The majority of current cases are reported among unvaccinated individuals and those under 17 years of age.

Health experts continue to stress the urgency of vaccination as a preventive measure against the spread of measles. The CDC recommends that children receive their first MMR shot between 12 and 15 months of age, with a second dose scheduled for ages 4 to 6 years.