by Admin
Feb 26, 2025
A child in Texas has died from measles, making it the first U.S. fatality from the highly contagious disease in nearly a decade, state health officials confirmed on Wednesday morning.
The unvaccinated child was hospitalized in Lubbock health facility last week and tested positive for measles before succumbing to the deadly diseases within 24 hours, according to local authorities.
The fatality comes as measles cases increased drastically in parts of western Texas and neighboring New Mexico states, with more than 130 people infected this year, mostly among unvaccinated children.
At least 20 people have been hospitalized in Texas, and health workers warn that the outbreak is likely to escalate.
Experts have feared that falling vaccination levels could contribute to further outbreaks across the country.
The measles resurgence comes at a sensitive time for, as newly appointed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a longtime critic of vaccines, downplays the severity of the outbreak.
During a meeting of President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Kennedy dismissed concerns, stating, “It’s not unusual. You have measles outbreaks every year.”
Kennedy also claimed that two deaths had been reported, though neither Texas nor New Mexico health officials confirmed an additional fatality.
His comments have drawn criticism from medical experts, who emphasize the importance of vaccination in preventing severe measles complications and deaths.
Health professionals stress that the measles vaccine remains one of the most effective tools against the disease.
Dr. Amesh Adalja, an infectious disease specialist at Johns Hopkins University, disclosed that the child’s death “should serve as a reminder that there was a reason the vaccine was developed and that it remains invaluable for public health.”
Dr. Lara Johnson, chief medical officer at Covenant Children’s Hospital in Lubbock, where the child was treated, reflected on the resurgence of measles in the United States.
She said, “When I graduated from medical school in 2002, I was confident I would never see a measles outbreak unless I chose to work internationally,” she said.
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus that spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes or breathes.
The disease is known for its distinct rash but also leads to severe complications, particularly in unvaccinated individuals, infants under 12 months who are not yet eligible for vaccination, and those with weakened immune systems.
During outbreaks, about one in five measles patients require hospitalization, and one in 20 develops pneumonia. In rare cases, measles can cause brain swelling and be fatal.
The measles vaccine is highly effective in preventing infection, with a single dose providing 93% protection and two doses offering 97% immunity.
Before the vaccine was introduced in 1963, millions of Americans contracted measles annually, leading to hundreds of deaths.
The disease was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, but outbreaks continue to occur, primarily in communities with low vaccination rates.
In 2023, the United States reported that 285 measles cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The largest recent outbreak occurred in 2019, with 1,274 cases, primarily in Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jerse,y marking the highest number of cases in decades.
With the current outbreak expanding and vaccination rates declining, public health officials are urging families to ensure their children receive the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to prevent further infections and fatalities.