Texas Measles Outbreak Claims Second Child's Life Amid Rising Cases

Mon Oct 20 2025 09:40:23 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

A second child succumbs to measles as Texas faces a significant outbreak, raising alarm over vaccination rates.

The resurgence of measles in Texas has led to the tragic death of a second unvaccinated child amidst more than 480 reported cases. Health officials stress the urgency of vaccinations to combat the outbreak.

Texas is grappling with a severe outbreak of measles, having reported a second child's death resulting from the highly contagious virus. The latest victim, an unvaccinated school-aged girl with no pre-existing health conditions, succumbed to complications while hospitalized, as confirmed by Aaron Davis, vice-president of the UMC Health System. This outbreak, which has been escalating rapidly, has now surpassed 480 confirmed cases in Texas alone, marking a significant rise from 420 earlier this week. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported over 600 cases across the U.S. this year, showing a dramatic increase compared to last year's figures of 285.

The first child to die from measles in the U.S. in a decade was a six-year-old girl from the local Mennonite community, whose death earlier this year served as a wake-up call about vaccine hesitancy. In light of these events, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Texas, expressing his condolences and emphasizing the critical need for vaccinations to control the outbreak. Kennedy stated, "The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine," highlighting the importance of inoculation amid rising concerns.

This year's unsettled situation echoes experiences from 2019, which saw 1,274 recorded measles cases, marking the largest outbreak since the early 1990s. Public health officials have pointed out that nearly all of this year's cases involve unvaccinated individuals, with the outbreak originating from a community that notably rejects vaccines. President Donald Trump commented on the outbreak's scale, asserting it is manageable while emphasizing potential actions if the situation escalates.

Alongside health officials, Senator Bill Cassidy has called for clearer messaging on vaccinations, insisting on the necessity of public health communication. Health experts reiterate that two doses of the MMR vaccine are essential for herd immunity—critical to protecting non-immunized individuals. The urgency for vaccination has never been clearer, as this outbreak reiterates the need for widespread immunization to prevent further tragedies.