Mon Mar 03 05:50:00 UTC 2025: **Unvaccinated Child Dies from Measles in Texas Outbreak; HHS Secretary Downplays Severity**
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — A child in rural West Texas has died from measles, marking the first U.S. death from the disease since 2015 and prompting renewed concerns about vaccination rates. The unvaccinated child, whose identity has not been released, passed away Tuesday night after being hospitalized in Lubbock. The death is part of a significant measles outbreak in West Texas, the largest in nearly 30 years, with 124 cases reported across nine counties since last month.
Health officials confirmed the death, expressing deep concern about the severity of the outbreak. Dr. Amy Thompson, CEO of Covenant Health, described the situation as “a big deal,” highlighting the serious consequences of the highly contagious virus. More than 20 measles patients, including the initial case, have been hospitalized at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, with some developing pneumonia requiring respiratory support.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. downplayed the outbreak, calling it “not unusual.” However, his statements were contradicted by several medical professionals. He incorrectly claimed that most hospitalized patients were merely under quarantine and that two deaths had occurred; officials clarified that only one death has been reported.
The outbreak is concentrated in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community, with a high rate of vaccine exemptions among school-aged children in some areas. The lack of vaccination is a key factor in the outbreak’s spread, health officials stress. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is providing support, but the Texas Department of State Health Services is leading the response.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s office is actively working with health officials to address the outbreak and provide necessary resources. A new case, unrelated to the West Texas outbreak, has been reported in Rockwall County.
The CDC recommends vaccination for children at 12-15 months and 4-6 years of age. While most children recover from measles, it can lead to severe complications including pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling, and death. National vaccination rates have fallen since the COVID-19 pandemic, raising concerns about future outbreaks. Secretary Kennedy’s recent vow to investigate the childhood vaccine schedule further complicates the issue.
First Piper 