By Marie Rosenthal, MS
Another child died from measles in the ongoing outbreak centered in the South Plains region of Texas. The school-aged child who tested positive for measles was hospitalized in Lubbock and died on April 3 from pulmonary failure due to measles, according to the state health department.
The child was not vaccinated and had no reported underlying conditions. This is the second Lubbock child to die during this outbreak, which has infected 481 people, mostly children, as of April 4. The first death was also a school-aged child who was not vaccinated, and it was the first U.S. death from measles in almost 10 years. So far, 56 people have been hospitalized during the Texas outbreak.
This outbreak has spread to New Mexico, which reported 54 cases, and Oklahoma, which has reported 10 cases as of April 4.
Other cases have also been reported, according to the CDC. As of April 3 this year, 607 cases have been confirmed in 21 states: Alaska, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington. According to the CDC, 97% of the cases occurred among people who were unvaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown. Twelve percent (74) of patients with measles have been hospitalized, the CDC said. Most of the cases are among children.
Another possible measles death was also reported in an unvaccinated person. Although the New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) confirmed the deceased resident of Lea County tested positive for measles, the official cause of death is still being investigated because the person did not seek medical care before dying. However, the NMDOH Scientific Laboratory has confirmed the presence of the measles virus.
The number of cases in 2025 has already surpassed the total for 2024, according to the CDC. There were 285 measles cases reported in 2024; 40% were hospitalized, but no one died.
During a measles outbreak, about 1 in 5 children who become sick will need hospital care, and 1 in 20 will develop pneumonia, the Texas health department said. Measles can lead to encephalitis and death. It can also cause pregnancy complications, such as premature birth and babies born with low birth weight.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met with the families of both children who died. Mr. Kennedy said in an X post that vaccination was the “most effective way to prevent the spread of measles.” He also said the growth rate for cases has "flattened."
At a CDC news conference, Manisha Patel, MD, the CDC incident manager, reiterated that the measles-mumps-rubella vaccine is the most effective way to protect against measles. She also warned parents not to delay care for a child with measles.
In a post on X, Sen. Bill Cassidy, MD (R-La.), urged people to be vaccinated. “Everyone should be vaccinated! There is no treatment for measles. No benefit to getting measles,” he wrote. “Top health officials should say so unequivocally b/4 another child dies.”
Mr. Kennedy was requested to appear before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions this Thursday.
