Measles Outbreak Claims Second Child in U.S.

A second child has died from measles in the southwestern United States as health officials warn of a growing outbreak that has infected hundreds, primarily in Texas.

Aaron Davis, vice president of Texas-based UMC Health System, confirmed the death on Sunday, stating the child had been hospitalized with measles complications. The child, who had no underlying health conditions, was unvaccinated against the highly contagious virus.

This marks the second measles-related death of a child in the U.S. this year. In late February, a six-year-old in Texas became the first fatality from the disease in over a decade. A third death—an unvaccinated adult in New Mexico—was reported in early March.

Vaccination Debate Intensifies

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a controversial figure known for downplaying vaccine efficacy, acknowledged the deaths in a statement Sunday, identifying the children as Kayley Fehr and Daisy Hildebrand. While he emphasized that the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine is the "most effective way to prevent the spread," Kennedy has historically framed immunization as a "personal choice," drawing criticism from public health experts.

Dr. Peter Marks, former FDA vaccine chief, blamed Kennedy’s rhetoric for fueling vaccine hesitancy. "This is the epitome of a needless death," Marks told the Associated Press. "These kids should get vaccinated—that’s how you prevent people from dying of measles."

The outbreak has disproportionately affected undervaccinated communities. Over 65% of Texas’s 481 confirmed cases are in Gaines County, where the virus spread rapidly among a close-knit Mennonite population with low immunization rates. Nationwide, more than 600 cases have been reported across 22 states—more than double the total for all of 2024.

Officials Brace for Prolonged Outbreak

Health experts warn the crisis could persist for months. Texas alone reported 59 new cases last week, with hospitalizations rising to 56.

Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), a physician, urged universal vaccination in a Sunday statement: "There is no benefit to getting measles. Top health officials should say so unequivocally [before] another child dies."

The Senate Health Committee has summoned Kennedy to testify Thursday as scrutiny over the administration’s response grows. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump downplayed the outbreak aboard Air Force One, calling case numbers "fairly small" but vowing "very strong action" if conditions worsen.

Measles, declared eliminated in the U.S. in 2000, resurges when vaccination rates fall below the 95% threshold needed for herd immunity. The virus spreads through airborne transmission, posing severe risks to unvaccinated individuals, particularly children.