Measles outbreak in the U.S.: second child dies in Texas — girl was not vaccinated
An 8-year-old girl died in Lubbock, Texas, from complications caused by measles. This is the second death among unvaccinated children amid a growing epidemic in the southwestern United States.
Photo: Stephen Andrews, Unsplash
On Thursday morning, an 8-year-old girl died from respiratory failure caused by measles at a hospital in Lubbock, Texas, according to The Texas Tribune.
The child had no chronic conditions but had not been vaccinated.
This is the second measles-related death in the region since the beginning of the year. The first occurred in February and also involved an unvaccinated child.
According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 481 cases of measles have been confirmed, 56 of which required hospitalization.
Neighboring states — New Mexico and Oklahoma — are also reporting dozens of cases. The outbreak may last a year, threatening the region’s measles-free status.
According to NBC News, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to visit Texas following the report of the new death.
The Senate has summoned Kennedy for a hearing. According to the former head of the FDA’s vaccine program, “this death could have been prevented.”
In March, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 222 measles cases in the U.S. since the start of 2025, 201 of them in Texas and New Mexico. Most of the infected are unvaccinated children. 93% of cases are linked to three outbreaks.
Measles is a highly contagious virus, dangerous due to its complications, and can spread through the air even hours after an infected person leaves the area.