An unvaccinated child in Texas has died from measles, marking the first US measles-related death in nearly a decade, amid declining vaccination rates. Over 130 measles cases have been reported in west Texas, primarily among unvaccinated children. The outbreak has raised concerns, particularly with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for spreading vaccine misinformation, recently becoming US health secretary. Measles, a highly contagious virus, requires a 95% vaccination rate for herd immunity, but coverage among kindergartners has dropped to 92.7%. The last US measles death prior to this was in 2015, emphasizing the vaccine’s importance in preventing such tragedies.
Houston:
Authorities reported Wednesday that an unvaccinated child in Texas has died from measles, marking the first fatality from the highly contagious virus in the US in nearly ten years and raising alarm about its potential comeback.
The child’s death occurs against a backdrop of falling immunization rates across the country and coincides with Robert F Kennedy Jr. beginning his role as US health secretary, a figure known for spreading misinformation about the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine.
“The school-aged child who was unvaccinated was hospitalized in Lubbock last week, where they tested positive for measles,” said the state health department in a news release.
Lubbock city officials confirmed that the child died “within the last 24 hours.”
During a meeting with President Donald Trump’s cabinet, Kennedy remarked, “There are two people who have died,” without elaborating further. He also minimized the situation by stating, “It’s not unusual. You have measles outbreaks every year.”
Since January, over 130 reported measles cases have emerged in west Texas and neighboring New Mexico, predominantly among unvaccinated children.
Eighteen individuals have been hospitalized in Texas, and health experts caution that the outbreak is likely to expand.
“Though multiple measles outbreaks in the United States have not led to fatalities, it was only a matter of time before one would occur,” said infectious disease specialist Amesh Adalja from Johns Hopkins University in an interview with AFP.
“Globally, measles causes over 100,000 deaths each year. This death should remind us why we developed the vaccine and its importance. These deaths are almost entirely preventable.”
Religious exemptions
The outbreak’s focal point is Gaines County, which hosts a large Mennonite community, a Christian group known for vaccine skepticism.
Texas law permits vaccine exemptions based on personal beliefs, including religious convictions.
“In Texas, you can essentially just declare, ‘I object,'” stated Terri Burke from the Texas-based Immunization Partnership, which advocates for childhood vaccinations, in a conversation with AFP.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises a vaccination coverage of 95 percent to uphold “herd immunity.”
However, vaccination rates among kindergartners have fallen from 95.2 percent in the 2019-2020 school year to 92.7 percent in the 2023-2024 year, leaving about 280,000 children at risk.
The last recorded measles death in the US occurred in 2015 when a woman in Washington state died from pneumonia related to the virus. Although she had been vaccinated, she was on immunosuppressive drugs. The previous measles-related death was in 2003.
Airborne threat
Measles is a highly contagious respiratory virus transmitted through droplets released when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. It poses a serious threat to unvaccinated persons, particularly infants under 12-15 months, who are ineligible for vaccination, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
During outbreaks, approximately one in five infected individuals may require hospitalization, and one in 20 may develop pneumonia. In rare circumstances, measles can cause brain swelling and death. It also elevates the risk of pregnancy-related complications, such as premature delivery and low birth weight.
According to the CDC, the US documented 285 measles cases in 2023. The largest recent outbreak occurred in 2019 with 1,274 cases, primarily affecting Orthodox Jewish communities in New York and New Jersey, representing the highest number of cases in decades.
Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1963, millions were believed to contract the disease each year, resulting in several hundred deaths. Although measles was declared eliminated in the US in 2000, outbreaks still occur annually.
RFK Jr. has repeatedly and falsely associated the MMR vaccine with autism, a claim that has been thoroughly discredited by scientific evidence.
In one of his initial actions as health secretary, the federal health department delayed a routine meeting of an independent advisory committee that provides vaccine recommendations to the CDC.
The meeting, initially scheduled for February 26-28, was set to discuss vaccines for meningococcal disease, influenza, and chikungunya. A new date has yet to be announced.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)