Particle.news
Download on the App Store
46 ARTICLES
·
3w ago

Second Child Dies in Texas Measles Outbreak as Cases Surge Nationwide

An unvaccinated 8-year-old girl in Lubbock is the second U.S. measles death in a decade, with 642 cases reported across 21 states and Washington, D.C.

SEMINOLE, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 27: Signs point the way to measles testing in the parking lot of the Seminole Hospital District across from Wigwam Stadium on February 27, 2025 in Seminole, Texas. Eighty cases of measles have been reported in Gaines county with one death reported. (Photo by Jan Sonnenmair/Getty Images)
FILE - A measles sign is seen at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Feb. 25, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, file)
Image
Image

Overview

  • The Texas measles outbreak, the largest in 30 years, has infected 481 people in the state, with 56 hospitalizations and two child deaths reported so far.
  • The most recent death, an 8-year-old unvaccinated girl in Lubbock, occurred on Thursday due to measles pulmonary failure, according to hospital officials.
  • The outbreak, which began in January in Gaines County, has spread to 21 states and Washington, D.C., with 642 cases reported nationwide as of April 6, 2025.
  • Health officials emphasize the critical importance of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective, as vaccination rates in affected areas remain below herd immunity thresholds.
  • Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism for his response, including his promotion of alternative treatments and lack of strong vaccine advocacy.