A second school-aged child has died in Texas due to complications from measles, as the outbreak that began in West Texas continues to spread across the state and beyond.
UMC Health System in Lubbock confirmed the child’s death on Sunday but did not specify the exact date. The child had not received the measles vaccine. This is the second measles-related child death in Texas this year, following the death of another unvaccinated child in February—the first U.S. measles death in a decade.
The outbreak, now in its third month, has spread to neighboring states, including New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Kansas, with related cases also reported in Mexico by the World Health Organization. As of April 4, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had confirmed 607 measles cases in 22 states, more than double the total number reported in all of 2024. Texas alone accounts for 499 of those cases.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. traveled to Gaines County on Sunday to visit the family of the latest victim, 8-year-old Daisy Hildebrand. In a post on X, Kennedy said he was also working with Texas health officials to better coordinate federal support. Despite his controversial stance on vaccines, Kennedy acknowledged that “the most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine.”
Health experts continue to warn of the risks tied to low vaccination rates. Dr. Carla Garcia Carreno of Children’s Medical Center Plano emphasized that most current cases are among unvaccinated individuals. She stressed the importance of early diagnosis, isolation of suspected cases, and the critical role of the MMR vaccine, which is 97% effective after two doses.
The CDC has deployed teams to Texas to assist with response efforts. Their tasks include supplying vaccines, supporting local investigations, and addressing community concerns—especially as summer travel season approaches, raising the risk of further spread.
Without increased vaccination and containment measures, health officials fear the outbreak could last for months and potentially lead the U.S. to lose its measles elimination status.
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