First U.S. Measles Death in a Decade Highlights Rising Vaccination Concerns

A child in Texas has died during a measles outbreak as vaccination rates continue to decline, raising alarms among health experts.

A Texas child, unvaccinated against measles, has died during the largest measles outbreak in the state in nearly 30 years, marking the first U.S. measles-related death since 2015.
The outbreak in Texas has resulted in 124 confirmed cases, predominantly among children, with 18 hospitalizations reported due to severe complications like pneumonia.
Declining vaccination rates, exacerbated by misinformation and distrust following the COVID-19 pandemic, have left communities vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles.
Health experts criticize U.S. Health Minister Kennedy Jr. for downplaying the outbreak and spreading inaccurate information about hospitalizations and deaths.
The outbreak has been concentrated in communities with low vaccination rates, including a Mennonite population in Texas, where vaccine exemptions for non-medical reasons are common.