Tragic Measles Death in Texas Marks First U.S. Fatality in Nearly a Decade Amid Widespread Outbreak
A child in rural West Texas, who was unvaccinated, has tragically died from measles, marking the first U.S. death from this preventable and highly contagious disease since 2015, state officials reported Wednesday. The school-aged child had been hospitalized and passed away on Tuesday night during a significant outbreak that has become Texas' largest in nearly 30 years. Since the outbreak began last month, there have been 124 reported cases across nine counties.
The Texas Department of State Health Services and health officials in Lubbock confirmed the child's death to The Associated Press. Although the child was treated at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, they did not reside in Lubbock County.
"This is a significant event," Dr. Amy Thompson, a pediatrician and CEO of Covenant Health, stated at a press conference. "We have known about measles in our community, and we are witnessing a severe consequence."
Meanwhile, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent vaccine skeptic and the nation’s top health official, commented on the situation, suggesting that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services was monitoring the outbreak and described it as “not unusual.” However, several of his statements were challenged as inaccurate, including his claim that most hospitalized patients were there merely for “quarantine.” Dr. Lara Johnson, the chief medical officer at Covenant, clarified, “We don’t hospitalize patients for quarantine purposes.”
Kennedy also misstated the number of deaths, asserting two fatalities had occurred due to measles, which was later corrected by Andrew Nixon, a spokesman for the Department of Health and Human Services, confirming only one death attributed to the CDC.
While the federal government is providing vaccines and support to the West Texas region, the response is primarily coordinated by the state health department. The CDC has stated it will offer weekly updates on the outbreak, though it had not yet updated its public webpage to include information on the child's death. Data from the Texas health department indicates that most reported cases involve children.
The measles virus has predominantly spread through close-knit and undervaccinated communities in rural Texas, particularly among a Mennonite population. In Gaines County, which has reported 80 cases, there is a strong network of homeschooling and private schooling, and the area has one of the highest rates of children opting out of required vaccinations in Texas, with nearly 14% missing at least one dose last school year.
Covenant Health officials noted that over 20 patients with measles have been hospitalized, with some developing respiratory complications that required oxygen support, and others needing intubation. Dr. Johnson remarked, “Unfortunately, like many viruses, there are no specific treatments for measles. We provide supportive care to help patients recover.”
Texas Governor Greg Abbott expressed through a spokesperson that his office is in regular contact with health department officials and epidemiologists. Vaccination teams are actively working in the affected area, and the spokesperson referred to the child’s death as a tragic event, assuring that the state would deploy all necessary resources to protect the health and safety of Texans.
On the same day, the health department reported a new measles case in Rockwall County, located east of Dallas. This individual had traveled internationally and is not connected to the West Texas outbreak.
