First US child dies of measles in a decade

FE Team | Published: February 27, 2025 21:58:07

A sign reading "measles testing" is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas on Tuesday —Reuters

TEXAS, Feb 27 (Reuters): A child in West Texas has died of measles, state health officials said on Wednesday, the first reported US death from the highly contagious disease in a decade, as a Texas outbreak has grown from a handful of cases to more than 130 across two states.
The child, who was not vaccinated against the disease, died overnight in a children's hospital, the Texas health department said in a statement.
"We have had so many kids coming in and then obviously we were not prepared, probably, so early in what we are seeing to have a death," said Amy Thompson, CEO of Covenant Children's Hospital in Lubbock, where the child died in what officials said was the fourth week of the measles outbreak.
During a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, a vaccine critic who was confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services earlier this month, said two people had died in the Texas outbreak. His Department of Health and Human Services later corrected Kennedy, confirming one death.