Third Measles Death Confirmed in the US; Kennedy Visits West Texas Amid Increasing Cases

Washington, April 7 (NationPress) The United States has reported its third measles-related death amid a rising outbreak that began spreading throughout West Texas in January, according to media reports.

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. arrived in West Texas following the death of a school-aged child who was undergoing treatment for measles at a local hospital.

This incident marks the second child fatality in Texas and the third nationwide linked to this outbreak.

"My intention was to come down here quietly to console the families and to be with the community in their moment of grief," Kennedy shared on X.

Kennedy mentioned that the Department of Health and Human Services is collaborating closely with Texas health officials and has dispatched teams from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to aid in managing the outbreak.

"The measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles," he added in a statement on Sunday.

Texas alone has reported 481 outbreak-associated cases as of Friday, according to the Texas Department of Health.

Across the nation, at least 569 cases have been documented in Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and potentially Kansas, based on data from state health departments.

Aaron Davis, vice president of UMC Health System in Lubbock, Texas, expressed, "We are deeply saddened to report that a school-aged child who was recently diagnosed with measles has passed away. The child was receiving treatment for complications of measles while hospitalized. It is essential to note that the child was not vaccinated against measles and had no known underlying health conditions."

While a Trump administration official informed The New York Times that the child's cause of death is "still being looked at," health authorities have stressed the dangers of staying unvaccinated.

The first measles death in the current Texas outbreak occurred in February in an unvaccinated school-aged child. Another fatality in New Mexico is still under investigation.

The majority of the outbreak-related cases in Texas involve unvaccinated individuals, with nearly 70 percent affecting children and teenagers. Gaines County alone accounts for about 66 percent of the cases in Texas, while Lubbock County makes up 7 percent. In response, UMC Health has initiated drive-up measles screenings at its urgent care centers.

New Mexico has documented 54 cases and Oklahoma has reported 10 cases -- eight confirmed and two probable. Kansas, which is still evaluating potential links to the outbreak, has seen 24 cases as of Wednesday.

Health experts caution that the actual number of measles cases may be significantly higher due to underreporting, especially in communities with limited healthcare access or vaccine hesitancy.

They warn that the high number of pediatric cases may lead to increased hospitalizations, particularly among younger children who are more susceptible to complications from measles.

US Senator Bill Cassidy, a physician, urged stronger federal action, stating on X, "Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles. Top health officials should say so unequivocally before another child dies."

Meanwhile, Kennedy's management of the outbreak has faced severe criticism from medical professionals. Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Philadelphia Children's Hospital, accused Kennedy of eroding public trust in vaccines.

"The disease has returned because a critical percentage of parents have chosen not to vaccinate their children, largely due to misinformation provided by individuals like RFK Jr," Offit stated.

Kennedy, who has long held controversial views on vaccines, has faced backlash for minimizing the outbreak's severity and the necessity of immunization, even as the nation confronts its deadliest measles wave in years.