Two days after describing a measles outbreak in Texas as “not unusual,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Friday acknowledged the severity of the epidemic, which has resulted in the death of a child. Kennedy stated that the federal government is providing resources, including vaccines, to address the crisis.
The Texas Department of State Health Services confirmed the first measles-related death in a press release on Wednesday. The victim was an unvaccinated child who had been hospitalized in Lubbock last week.
Since late January, the outbreak has seen 124 confirmed cases, primarily affecting children and unvaccinated individuals. Eighteen people have been hospitalized, according to state health officials.
Kennedy’s Initial Response and Clarification
During a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, Kennedy initially downplayed the outbreak, stating, “It’s not unusual, we have measles outbreaks every year.” He also incorrectly claimed there had been two deaths linked to the outbreak, a statement his agency later clarified as a misstatement.
In a post on X, Kennedy emphasized that ending the outbreak is a “top priority” for his department. Notably, Kennedy has long been associated with anti-vaccine rhetoric, frequently questioning the safety and efficacy of vaccines.
To combat the outbreak, Kennedy announced that the Department of Health and Human Services would send 2,000 doses of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine to Texas. The MMR vaccine is typically administered in two doses: the first between 12 and 15 months of age, and the second between four and six years old.
Measles in the U.S.: A Resurgent Threat
Measles was declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, a milestone attributed to the success of the country’s vaccination program. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the last measles-related death in the U.S. occurred in 2015.
However, vaccination rates for the MMR vaccine in Texas have declined slightly in recent years, a trend exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This drop in immunization coverage has left communities more vulnerable to preventable diseases like measles.
The outbreak has also spread beyond Texas. New Mexico reported nine cases in Lea County, which borders Texas to the east.
Health officials continue to urge vaccination as the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles and protect vulnerable populations.