Texas and New Mexico Measles Outbreak Raises Alarm Over Vaccination Rates

The outbreak has infected over 150 individuals, caused the first U.S. measles death in a decade, and reignited debates on vaccine hesitancy and public health leadership.

A measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico has infected over 150 people, with one unvaccinated child in Texas dying—the first U.S. measles death in a decade.
Health experts emphasize the need for high vaccination rates, with at least 95% community coverage required to prevent the spread of the highly contagious virus.
Vaccine hesitancy, fueled by misinformation and distrust, has surged, with West Texas communities like Gaines County showing vaccination rates as low as 82%.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has faced criticism for his response, with experts urging stronger advocacy for vaccinations to curb the outbreak.
Doctors report severe complications in unvaccinated children, including pneumonia and dehydration, and stress the urgency of vaccination to prevent further deaths and hospitalizations.