Unvaccinated children in Texas have died from measles, where vaccination rates are declining statewide. Texas faces 124 cases of measles, primarily among unvaccinated children.
A West Texas child died of measles, marking the first reported death in the United States in nearly a decade, state health officials announced Wednesday.
A “school-age child” who has not been vaccinated was hospitalized last week and died at Lubbock Children’s Hospital after testing positive for measles, according to a press release from the Texas Department of Health.
Deaths happen as Texas is fighting a measles outbreak that has surged from a handful of cases to at least 124 infections, according to state health officials. At least 18 people have been hospitalized so far, most have not been vaccinated or their vaccination status is unknown, according to the Texas Department of Health.
In eastern New Mexico, nine other cases have been confirmed in New Mexico near the Texas border, with a total of over 130 across the two states per Texas DSHS.
Measles, a highly contagious airborne virus, is fatal for 1 to 3 deaths per 1,000 reported cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lala Anton, a senior spokesperson for the Texas Department of Health, told Business Insider it was extremely difficult to stop the spread of measles. Not only are those who have not been vaccinated have a 90% chance of getting infected if exposed, but those who have been infected can become contagious without knowing for up to four days, Anton said.
“When people register their children in kindergarten through seventh grade schools, they provide us and our district with updates on vaccinations in their district,” Anton said. “In general, coverage levels across the state have declined in recent years.”
Measles death is rare. The ultimate death of adult measles in the United States occurred in 2015 when a Washington woman signed it at a health clinic, according to CDC data. Anton said the child died of measles in Texas in 2018.
Vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was confirmed this month as U.S. Health Secretary despite opposition from health professionals and some members of Congress. However, he is committed to maintaining his existing vaccination program.
“We track the measles outbreak every day,” Kennedy said during a meeting with President Donald Trump’s cabinet at the White House. “By the way, there were four measles outbreaks this year. There were 16 in this country last year. So that’s not uncommon. There’s a measles outbreak every year.”
He also said two people died at the outbreak, but the Texas DSHS has been able to confirm only one death so far.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
